Saturday 30th April saw the return of the Boatie Blest Cockenzie and Port Seton Coastal Rowing Club Regatta. 9 clubs took part: Boatie Blest, Dunbar, North Berwick, Eskmuthe, Row Porty, Eastern, St Ayles, Royal West and Troon.
All races were 350m head to head sprints around two buoys, on in each section of the double harbour with the two fastest times going in the final, watched by a good crowd enjoying the return to skiff racing. The morning was sunny and bright, the afternoon turned cool, breezy and drizzling but nothing dampened the enthusiasm of seeing good racing and clubs meeting up again. The tea tent did excellent business and sold many of our new ‘Boatie Blest Bake Book’ of recipes.
The day started with the traditional Cockenzie versus Port Seton race, followed by 7 more categories of racing. Results were as follows:
Cockenzie v Port Seton: Port Seton:
Open Mixed: 1. St Ayles 2. Boatie Blest
Open Men; 1. Boatie Blest; 2. North Berwick
Open Women: 1. North Berwick 2 St Ayles
Men’s Novice: 1 Royal West; 2 Boatie Blest
Women’s Novice: 1 St Ayles, 2 Eastern
Mixed 40+: 1. North Berwick 2 Boatie Blest
Mixed 50+ : 1. Troon 2 St Ayles
It was a great pleasure to see racing again, particularly to see new rowers who have joined clubs during lockdown enjoying the camaraderie and competitiveness of skiff racing.