Coastal Rowing News

Click above to see Chris Perkins’ video footage of a couple of the races. Thanks Chris!

The Eyemouth community rowing Project Launched their first boat officialy on Sunday 11 July.  Immediately after the offficial launch she was rowed around to Eyemouth Beach by what I think was the heaviest and powerful crew I have seen in a St Ayles.  When those young men get practiced, any other men’s open crew had better watch out!

On the start line on a very breezy day

Radio Scotland sent a reporter to cover the event, and the piece on the rowing can be found at BBC iPlayer at 38:00 or thereabouts.

Unity of Eyemouth

As can be seen in the photo, it was a very breezy day, and conditions were very testing for the crews, especially the new ones. Everyone appeared to enjoy themselves, especially the Dunbar mens crew who had never rowed a St Ayles before, won their heat, and came pretty close to winning the event – we blame the cox – equally inexperienced. All pictures above courtesy of Peter Nisbet – more to be seen at http://www.flickr.com/groups/scottishrowing/pool/ Alec Jordan

The ‘Coigach Lass’ and ‘Ulla’ put on some short sprint races on Saturday at the LBSC regatta, coinciding with the local Rotarians ’Round the Pier’ day we hoped that it might raise the profile of the Skiffs in the locality. As with all such events the weather inevitably plays a large part in determining success on the day. We were lucky. The sun shone most of the day, breezes were enough to keep the midgies down and provide for the sailors without being too stiff for the rowers. sad to report ‘Ulla’ continues to be a bit slower, although in the right hands (the Ladies) by not very much, so it was no great surprise that the visitors took all honours. After the serious business of the day was over crews swapped boats and had an informal challenge. Even snapping one of our new oars (B&Q specials, £1.50 a pop) the ‘buies still left our crew trailing – a very impressive performance which suggests that not all the answers are to be found massaging the boat.  The snaps are of the regatta generally with a focus on the Skiffies.

As usual click on the thumbnail for the bigger picture – the original file or paper print can be supplied to ‘models’, just ask.

From Left to right :Steve, Mark, Nick and Dan - the mens open team; Alison, Lesley, Ish and Grethe - the ladies open; Alan, Sam, Sue and the invisible Anne Marie - mixed open victors with their silverware.

The ‘Ulla’ v ‘Coigach Lass’ sprint racing on 10th July was a clean sweep by varying distances for the lads and laasies from Coigach.

Full(er) report to follow.

Friday 9th was driech, a grey sort of low cloudy drizzle didn’t hold much promise for our plans to hold open house for anybody to come and try our Skiff later in the evening. Friday was the first day of the local sailing club’s  three-day regatta so it was clearly a no brainer to piggy back off the event.
Around 16:00ish the front rolled through and we had one of those gloriously freshly washed evenings that are such a special part of this part of the world. I got down to the Wee Pier a little late to find preparations for the evenings sailing well under way and our Skiff ‘Ulla’ already out on the water. Over the course of the evening a good few people had a go rowing, the sailing club had their races – although to the uninitiated it looked more like a group of rugged individuals doing their own thing – perceptible organisation is not one of the local characteristics, stuff happens non the less and who’s to say we’re wrong.  A good evenings preparation for the following day when ‘Ulla’ takes on ‘Coigach Lass’ in an attempt to redeem herself after the recent outing to Portsoy.
As the sun sank over the Summer Isles the quality of the light got ever better – so it’s over to the snaps to speak for themselves. Looking at the full size pix it is obvious how much fun the rowers are having, I don’t recall seeing such general delight on the faces of the sailors, so if you are tempted to join in just come along and have a try on a practice evening. As a small gesture of thanks to the Sailing Club for putting up with us the snaps include some of the sailing activity – and because I like them

Particular thanks to Jan and Dan who crewed the ‘Press Launch’ and kept the water where it belonged.

Click on the thumbnail to get the bigger picture – and captured subjects who want the original file  or an old fashioned paper print – well, just ask.

Bonny day for it ‘Round the Pier’ at Ullapool today.

Our friendly rivals, the crews of the bold ‘Ulla’, went head to head with ‘Coigach Lass’ crews in a series of four races. It was great fun…and we are all learning more about finessing our boats’ performance; steerboards, oars, and their accoutrements -  kabes on the ‘Lass’ and thole pins on the ‘Ulla’ were hotly discussed and compared…..The ‘Lass’ with her repaired, old, coble oars in the middle of the boat and the shorter Ron R/Ali beag made Douglas Fir oars at bow and stroke seem to do the business for Coigach! Here’s the ‘Lass’ Open Men’s Crew (above) pulling ahead… Scroll over the photos for captions.

Oh, there’s a bonny-like bend in those oars! Stroke! The ‘Lass’ Mixed Open Crew giving it up for Coigach!

Women’s Open Crew warm down after winning a close race against their ‘Ulla’ peers. Only half a boat length in it! A great effort by both crews.The Lass’s Open Men’s Crew giving it the ‘Big Five’ in the ‘Ulla’ to see how she feels… ooops Dan breaks an oar. All in the friendly spirit of Coastal Rowing. Topher can turn out another B&Q quickie in under half an hour tho’! That Viking Steerboard on the Ulla is churning the water… must have a braking effect surely…..

And now the prizes! Thanks to Ullapool skiffies and yachties for a great afternoon’s fun and frolics! And for the recycled mini-trophies. Spot on!

Alison, Lesley, Ish and  Grethe  get the cup-ette! (Left)

Below, Steve, Mark, Nick and Dan with their ….cup?

(Bottom left) Alan, Sam and Sue (Anne Marie not in photo- kids needed chips I think) with their top cuppage…

Many, many thanks to Chris Perkins for wonderful photographs!

They’ll be no rowing at Portobello this Sunday as Icebreaker is visiting Eyemouth for the launch of their skiff. 

Due to this, there will be TASTER SESSIONS running at 1-3 pm on SATURDAY.

GalGael are hosting a festival on the Isle of Cumbrae on the weekend of 14/15th August. They would love as many skiffs as possible to attend this international event, which is the first of its kind to be held.  There will be visiting traditional coastal rowing boats visiting from Spain,Portugal, Ireland and we hope france and this will provide everyone with an opportunity to meet likeminded people from far and wide.The visiting international crews are all keen to have a go in the skiffs and would love folk to have a go in their boats.  If any skiffies would like to take part then could you please let Martin Hughes at Galgael know asap.

 www.sailandoar.co.uk and www.galgael.org

Men’s rowing will start around 6.30 today (Tues 6th July) as some work is being done to the oars.

At Portobello’s suggestion, I’ve uploaded the full results from Portsoy – the only thing was that I cannot remember whether it was Cockenzie or Port Seton that won the Mixed Open on the Saturday!

Portsoy Results

Who pulled the plug?

Today, 3rd July 2010, Ulla and some of her support team visited the Coigach Gathering – a major community event in the locality. It had been intended that the two local skiffs, ‘Coigach Lass’  and ‘Ulla’ would race on Bardentarbet Bay. The weather Gods decided otherwise, a strong Southerly was blowing onto the beach and lifting far more surf than it would have been wise to launch into. The ‘Lass’ remained firmly on her trailer

but whilst the pipes played, runners ran and Connoisseurs of fine drink drunk the Ullapool Skiffies had come to go rowing so, undaunted, launched ‘Ulla’ down a precipitous bank into a shallow lochan behind the coast road – I was going to say lagoon but that implies far more tropicality than was the case today. The blast from the south did have the advantage of keeping the bane of the Gathering, the Midgie, at bay – nary a nibble all day.

A proper risk assessment was scrupulously carried out and a safe method of operating in these severe conditions worked out – here we have Topher bravely testing the approved system which involved securing the vessel to a buoy for the duration

Once all were assured of the safety of the operation those of a nautical bent had a go at water gardening with Tophers newly manufactured, best B&Q, oars. These are a more traditional approach to the Port Seton pinned oars which were such a Wow at the recent Trad Boat Festival at Portsoy. The Ullapool team led the way

followed by some fearless Coigach youngsters

changeover of tethers and rowers continued all afternoon 

One particularly cruel suggestion was made that a young enthusiast had sat on some super glue such was his reluctance to leave the boat and avail himself of the rest of the entertainment on offer. A star of a future ‘Lass’ team?

All said a really good afternoon despite the breeze – many thanks to our Coigach Neighbours for laying on such a brilliant event – hopefully we can come some way to matching the fun factor next weekend in Ullapool when we hope the two Skiffs will once again go head to head in amicable rivalry.

A bit late in putting up this blog, but the Royal Highland Show and other bits and pieces got in the way.

On Sunday 20th June 2010 we turned the skiff over. A small event, with a handful of families there, but a major milestone. The skiff pulled off the moulds without a problem, none stuck and the inside of the skiff looks great.

We have now cleaned the skiff – inside and out – Shannon taking the lead on this and many eager hands helping out. Painless really, if you have a mass of people to help and a good banter.

The thwart beams have also been cut, gunwales are being prepared and discussing on colour schemes are heating up.

Eyemouth are very confident, and are challenging local skiffs to take them on within 45 minutes of their launch!  Enjoy their Herring Festival on 11 July: 1:15pm Launch by the newly crowned Herring Queen followed by a blessing by George Shaw   2pm Races commence either in the bay or a time trial in the harbour if weather is not good.  http://www.berwickshirecoast.org.uk/

Chris Perkins has started the process of uploading his videos to Youtube.

The first is Coigach v Port Seton.

I will add links to others as he lets me know that they have been uploaded.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fw4bWJWas0

Click on the above to see…and hear… the race. Thanks to Chris Perkins for this and all the fab cakes he left for hungry rowers!

Safe to say that everyone was a winner.  The skiff racing at Portsoy was a fantastic event in wonderful weather. 

It was at Portsoy last year that promotion really started for the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project, with Iain Oughtred still working away at his drawing board.  It was fantastic to see six skiffs racing at the event, especially with the knowledge that many more are already in build. 

Recognition of the attention that the project has received can be seen from the fact that Scotland’s First minister came along in order to watch our racing and present the prizes.  Every one was a winner, but some are more winner than others, so congratulations to Port Seton for winning three events: the mixed open, men’s over 40 and Women’s over 40; to North Berwick for winning the mixed over 40, to Coigach for winning the men’s open, and to Anstruther for winning the Women’s open.

See post below for Flickr link.

From the reaction of the Organisers of Portsoy when I said goodbye to them on Monday morning, the title of this post will be the show’s title next year.   I have booked the whole of the Links campsite for Skiffies for next year (I wish).

First set of pictures on Flickr have been posted, courtesy of Chris Perkins.  I could not decide which of them should be in this post!

I’m expecting to get a link to Kathy Mansfield’s set in a day or two, and I will get the official results up here in the morning.

To all who attended this weekend’s fun, a massive thank you, to all who haven’t yet built themselves a Skiff, time to get building to join the fun!

Alec J

The ‘Coigach Lass’ racing Crews ….and a builder!

L to R:  Mark Irvine (rower, Cox), Nic Clooney, (rower), Kimberley Colclough, (rower), Alan Pendred, (rower), Iseabail Muir, (rower), Lesley Muir (rower, Cox), Louise Mackenzie, (rower), Dan Walton, (rower), Steve Husband, (rower), Ali (beag) Macleod, (one of 2 lead builders), random dude, Alison Hitchings, (rower.)

To massive cheers from our supporters- and the crowds- lining the harbour walls at the very busy Portsoy Traditional Boat Festival on Saturday, the Lass’s Open Men’s team for the day battled a headwind on the return leg of the race to storm home in the finals as the triumphant Men’s Open St Ayles Skiff crew.

A fantastic achievement of pure determination, tenacity and stubborn willpower against crews drawn from much larger communities! Every single race our rowers entered, men’s women’s mixed and junior, they gave their all despite blisters and pulled muscles! They were all winners.

What a weekend – with all our rowers and their kids, spouses, partners, friends …and dogs…. having a brilliant couple of days. Photos pouring in and I have been promised footage of the winning final. Come back soon when I have caught breath to blog it all up! See Topher’s (of the ‘Ulla’) comment on the right.