Outer Hebrides Coastal Rowing News
Wednesday, 22 September 2010 19:14 | Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 January 2011 00:56 | Written by Roderick Read | 
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Scottish Coastal Rowing Project
A new sport is taking Scotland by storm as people of all ages and abilities are getting together to build boats for their communities and row them in regattas and boat festivals around the Scottish coast. It's been proving very popular with over 30 communities rushing to build boats so far and, with 9 already launched, hundreds of people have enjoyed the teamwork required to build and race their boats, have made new friends within their communities and found a fun and satisfying way to get more exercise and enjoy the beauty of our coastal scenery.
Each boat needs a standard crew of four rowers and a coxswain and is shared amongst it's community's rowers so they can form teams - from under 20s to over 60s, men's, women's or mixed - to take part in the various races both locally and further afield. The boats, known as St Ayles Skiffs, are based on Fair Isle skiffs, and are 22 ft long and 5' 8" wide. They arrive in kit form and it is possible for complete novices to help build them, although woodworking skills are definitely recommended. Each skiff is funded by grants, donations and fundraising projects.
We are planning to start the first of these builds in Stornoway soon and anywhere else in the Outer Hebrides where people wish to take part. With this project there will be every possibility that next summer will see the return of the local regattas around the islands with our various communities competing against each other in their own skiffs. It would be a very welcome sight to many as historically rowing has been a huge part of our local traditions and the Hebridean men were once renowned for their prowess at the oars. One famous example was in 1916 when a team of Royal Navy Reservists made up from ex-fishermen from the Isle of Lewis beat the Royal Navy's regular rowing teams, mostly professionally trained officers, and won the Admiral’s Cup.
If you are interested in building or rowing a skiff or supporting the project in anyway, even if you have a large shed that can be used to build a boat in, please get in touch.
For more info email me, Sandy MacDonald at flotsam(at)gmx.com, or visit http://scottishcoastalrowing.org/
A new sport is taking Scotland by storm as people of all ages and abilities are getting together to build boats for their communities and row them in regattas and boat festivals around the Scottish coast. It's been proving very popular with over 30 communities rushing to build boats so far and, with 9 already launched, hundreds of people have enjoyed the teamwork required to build and race their boats, have made new friends within their communities and found a fun and satisfying way to get more exercise and enjoy the beauty of our coastal scenery.
Each boat needs a standard crew of four rowers and a coxswain and is shared amongst it's community's rowers so they can form teams - from under 20s to over 60s, men's, women's or mixed - to take part in the various races both locally and further afield. The boats, known as St Ayles Skiffs, are based on Fair Isle skiffs, and are 22 ft long and 5' 8" wide. They arrive in kit form and it is possible for complete novices to help build them, although woodworking skills are definitely recommended. Each skiff is funded by grants, donations and fundraising projects.
We are planning to start the first of these builds in Stornoway soon and anywhere else in the Outer Hebrides where people wish to take part. With this project there will be every possibility that next summer will see the return of the local regattas around the islands with our various communities competing against each other in their own skiffs. It would be a very welcome sight to many as historically rowing has been a huge part of our local traditions and the Hebridean men were once renowned for their prowess at the oars. One famous example was in 1916 when a team of Royal Navy Reservists made up from ex-fishermen from the Isle of Lewis beat the Royal Navy's regular rowing teams, mostly professionally trained officers, and won the Admiral’s Cup.
If you are interested in building or rowing a skiff or supporting the project in anyway, even if you have a large shed that can be used to build a boat in, please get in touch.
For more info email me, Sandy MacDonald at flotsam(at)gmx.com, or visit http://scottishcoastalrowing.org/
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