Our 3rd Coigach Coastal Rowing Regatta May 18th 2013 – what a day – and night!

Local toddlers Lyra – and Lily close behind (she, indeed, of the eponymous boat the ‘Lily~Rose’) at the shoreside at Badentarbat Bay, Achiltibuie, getting into the spirit with young Coigach Community Rowing crewman Calum as he waits for his race on a cool, lightly breezy, overcast but fair Coigach Coastal Rowing Regatta day! Bring it on!

It had been all quiet on the green by the shore the evening before:

But by ten the next morning the bay was packed with boats, spectators and busy food sales stalls: a venison burger stall raising money for youngsters’ Tall Ships Sail Training; soup,  tea and fab home-bakes from the local Primary School parents group; a delicious salmon BBQ courtesy of Scottish Sea Farms’ local Tanera-based salmon farm, and the Lochinver Panini van! Almost every scrap of a considerable array of delicious food was sold out by the close of play around 4.30pm.

Hungry work rowing – makes the spectators peckish too!

Crews from Portobello- (in the  ‘Jenny Skylark’), Newburgh – (in the ‘Glide’), Newhaven- winners of the ‘Best Presented Skiff’ (in the ‘Wee Michael’), Helmsdale- (in the ‘BaileAnor’), Ullapool crews- (in ‘Ulla’, ‘Cul Mor’ and ‘Loki’), North Berwick- (in the ‘Skiff John B’) and Anstruther (in the ‘St Ayles’) joined Coigach with ‘Coigach Lass’ and ‘Lily~Rose’ on Badentarbat beach, and suddenly the beach was filled with a bevy of beautiful, hand-built St Ayles skiffs, each with their own lovingly painted livery, the pride of their crews and community, awaiting the commencement of the racing!

An early cox’s briefing had drawn the visiting skiffers yawning from their various tents, campervans, chalets and cottages all round the Coigach peninsula….

… but Umpire Iain got down to business explaining the course – using the St Ayles Skiff World Championship system as start and finish ‘gates’ for this regatta – until further work on the drawing board by Topher and his crew in Ullapool finalises its design in time for the Skiffie Worlds in Ullapool in July.

                                            Then it was all about the racing!..

…and getting into the boat dryshod…

…which ‘Glide’  crewmember forgot their wellies then??  Go on my son – don’t drop him!

…and discussing tactics……and being a Coigach Under 17 rower (in blue hoodies below) … … a wee bit nervous before a first race- but enjoying a bit of attention from the local girls – and why not↑

… and lots of inter-crew chats and craic↓……and kids having fun↓……and filmakers and coxes and dogs…and the ‘Commentary box’ – (me with the bins, Sue, a car bonnet, a list of boats, a dodgy mic and Peter’s shoulder to keep the bins steady! Very professional – not!)..↓…and spectating and eating and paddling and racing… ooh those salmon BBQ rolls!!…

… and then that scoreboard – flamin’ Nora!…And even the weather behaved herself – just nicely cool for the rowers but a bit on the baltic side for the spectators!

By 5pm the boats were on their trailers and skiffers, their families and supporters hurried off to prepare for the Prizegiving Ceilidh at the Community Hall.

It seemed like Leslie and her team from the Piping School Cafe fed the 5,000 with her delish Curry and Crumble -then before the music got going there were points and medals to hand out!

There will be more Prizegiving photos up here soon but just a couple to get you started..North Berwick Crews took overall second place – here some of them are getting their medals- the ‘Ulla’ Crews took overall third place and theCoigach Crews took the top spot. 

Special ‘Feisty Newcomer’ medals were also awarded to the skippers of the ‘Baileanor’ crews fromHelmsdale and the ‘Glide’ crews fromNewburgh who had, as newbies to Coigach, rowed magnificently in the regatta and will be a growing force to be reckoned with!

And here are the lads of the Coigach Community Rowing Under 17 crew,  l to r - Seamus, Sean, Ewan and James (Ian sadly missed the photo) with their well deserved medals! Their very first season rowing and already into the medals – and the first win (the ‘Freshers’ race against all ages) – with our new boat ‘Lily~Rose’! Well done lads , Coigach is proud of you!

Here’s another very proud medal wearer from Newburgh – and a close up of the hand made phosphor bronze medals Steve cut from the propshaft of the wrecked ‘Maid of Tanera’ -ex Kylesku ferry many many moons ago -and sandblasted with the pattern of C for Coigach and a skiff being rowed…

After all that the music got going – and many a dance was danced, and dram was downed and a good party was had by skiffers one and all. And then Karen took all the happy campers home in the mini-bus. Goodnight! And it was all,  ‘See you tomorrow for the row to Tanera….’ 

Ah, but that is another story about a warm, sunny day full of happy skiffers and a row in paradise.

Thanks to Maureen, Julia and Linda from Coigach, Chris from North Berwick and a kind chap from Newburgh for the photos.

Regatta 18/19 May – Schedule…

REGATTA 2013      Saturday 18^TH May

8.30am Cox’s briefing – Marquee on shore, Badentarbat Bay, Achiltibuie, turn off the A835 ten miles north of Ullapool.

9.30 am >      Women’s Open 2k                     

10.15      >       Men’s Open 2k

11.00     >       Men’s Over 40 1k                       

11.30      >       Women’s Over 40 1k

12.00     >       Under 17s/Over 55s mixed 1k    

12.30   >          LUNCH

13.30     >       Women’s Over 50s 1k                

14.00    >          Men’s Over 50s 1k

14.30     >         Freshers Race 1k (rowers for whom this is the first season of competition)

15.00     >          Mixed Open 1k                          

15.30     >          Mixed Over 40s 1k

16.00     >       Mixed Over 50s 1k 

(Programme  may change due to weather)

Then all rowers and their families welcome for Curry & Crumble, Ceilidh and…

Prize Giving at the Community Hall, Bar and Food - from 6.30pm!  Adults- 2 courses, £8.00.  Veggie option.  Hot dogs and ice cream for kids.

Prize giving around 7.30 after food.Minibus between campsite and Hall

   Sunday 19^th  Morning fun!

 

TANERA CUP Challenge! 2.4 k   Row over to Tanera Mor, the largest of the Summer Isles. All boats must carry a full crew + passenger and cox (6.)Crew must be mixed.  The cox and passenger may row in rotation, but the crewmust remain mixed at all times. (2 men 2 women) Departure after safety briefing at 10.30.            The first crew arriving win a free champagne breakfast!

 

BRUNCH for rowers and families will be available in the Shoreside Café on the island. Filled breakfast roll and Coffee/Tea £5   CASH ONLY.

Ferry Boats will be leaving the pier at Badentarbat to carry non-rowers over to Tanera from 9.30. The return ferry charge will be £5 per person.  Children under 12 travel free.  Dogs welcome!  

All we need now is for the sun to shine as it did last year!

The ‘fleet’ grows – welcome the ‘Lily~Rose’!

All photos  courtesy Chris Perkins except where otherwise credited.

The ‘Lily~Rose’ launch, Old Dornie slip, Achiltibuie, Coigach, Friday 19^th April 2013.

A clear, sunny, spring afternoon welcomed a good crowd of locals and visitors to Old Dornie harbour last Friday for the launch of Coigach’s second St. Ayles racing skiff, the ‘Lily~Rose.’

She was built over the winter months with immense care and dedication by the all-Coigach team of Ali (Beag) Macleod,  Alan Pendred, (Coigach Community Rowing Chair) and Mark Irvine, (CCR Racing manager) together with help from many other rowers, young and old.  Folk will remember that Ali was one of the two lead builders of our first Skiff, the ‘Coigach Lass,’ with Ron Davidson – and his enthusiasm was in no way dimmed by that first build!

 With the help of Grethe and Lizzie, their rower mums, toddler Lily and baby Rosie  were assisted to dash their namesake’s bow with a splash of malt whisky – and  the ‘Lily~Rose’ was duly named in good style to a hearty round of applause.

The two dads also did their bit. Rich had carved a wooden rose and Dan a lily – which were fixed to the boat next to Ron R’s beautifully-carved Lily~Rose lettering – all set off by the CCR fleet (!) livery of sky-blue hull, black sheerstrake and oiled gunnels, stem and stern.

With young rowers Sean, Ian, James and Finlay forming a guard of honour with the oars, crew members carried the boat down to the sound of the pipes and a big cheer!

 

The builders were first in to try her, (Builders: Stroke, Alan P, no. 3 Mark  I, no.2 Ali Beag MacL.) Cox: Nick C, Bow oar, myself.

Photo: Emma Dove.  ‘Lily~Rose’ builders (left) Ali Beag and Mark I ( the other, Alan P, is in the boat too) delighted with how she goes!

Next into the new boat … the Under 17 crew – one of whom be-kilted !

Quite a job controlling your kilt in a wind!

Under 17 crew on the water -  Bow: Sean H.  no.2 oar: Seumas H. no.3 oar: James R.  Stroke: Ian MacI.   (Look at the bend on those oars!)

Our newly formed Under 17 Crew (all of whom are under 15!) show off their developing skills as they train hard to compete along with CCR’s other crews in both the annual Coigach Coastal Rowing Regatta at Badentarbat on 18^th May, the World St Ayles Skiff coastal rowing Championships in July this year in Ullapool – and in regattas round Scotland over the summer. This year Coigach is taking both boats and two crews to the Thames Great River Race in September – hoping to move up from that excellent second place out of 92 boats in their class last year, to a first!

Dogs and kids wait by the slip…

Sitting bonny as the wind increases…                       Photo: Emma Dove

However, with the wind getting up, it was time to get the ‘Lily~Rose’ back on her trailer …and then there was time for a wee dram (or two!) for all, as the builders discussed the modifications to the rudder they felt were needed (perfectionists!)

…and the spectators enjoyed the craic in the sun

and inspected the boat.

Even the thwarts are immaculately painted and pared down..!

The unanimous vote was that the ‘Lily~Rose’ is another great boat, with many seasons of fun and hard competition ahead of her!   

Many thanks to young pipers Seumas H and Anna and Ruaridh B – led by piper and rower, Alison S.  Nothing like the pipes for stirring the soul!

…and finally she is back on the trailer and the crowd disperses for the evening…and to the pub!

Photo: L Muir    Alan P, rower, builder and Chairperson of Coigach Community Rowing checks the ‘Lily Rose’ is right and tight.

‘Lily~Rose’ launch celebrations !

We are just waiting to see how weather conditions pan out to decide exactly when to launch Coigach’s latest home-built racing skiff the lovely ‘Lily~Rose.’

But whether she kisses the water (to the sound of the pipes and no doubt much cheering) on Friday or Saturday coming, whatever, the celebrations will follow, big stylee,  in our fab Community Hall, Saturday 20th at 6pm.

The buffet, with lashings of local  meat, fish, seafood and home cooking, will be laid out ready to start at 6, which is when the bar opens. Plenty soft drinks cans available too, and for the kids.

Bring a bit of food to share!

2013 Coigach Coastal Rowing Regatta comin’ up soon…

Calling all Skiffie friends old and new!

Here’s a friendly invitation to join us in sunny Achiltibuie for our third annual Coastal Rowing Regatta over the weekend of 18th and 19th May 2013 (that’s the central belt public holiday long weekend for Victoria Day.)

This is how we roll !

Racing will happen all on the Saturday, with a relaxed fun day on the Sunday morning and early afternoon…

With a big marquee (all-day food available onsite) right by the beach we race from, we race on the Saturday, then keep the party together by having the medals presentation at our local Community Hall on Sat evening after a modestly priced hearty meal you can pre book for your club(veggies and kids can be accommodated.)

There is a very reasonably priced bar and as much ceilidh dancing and socialising as you want to do!

We have a minibus running to take folk from the excellently appointed shoreside campsite to the Community Hall and back. The campsite is situated v close to a bar/restaurant which normally does bacon rolls and coffee in the morning before racing.
Campsite: www.portabhaigh.co.uk/ - other accommodationwww.coigach.com for B&B or holiday cottages etc plus info about our beautiful area. Children very welcome.

Now the nitty gritty!

Racing will be a combination of 1km Sprints and  races  trialling the Skiffie Worlds buoy system over 2 km with 20 metres between buoys,  so tight starboard turns are necessary and should be practised using a combination of oars and rudder, rowing port side and dragging or digging in on starboard.

Races in  Open, 40+, 50+ races in men’s, women’s and mixed categories  are being offered as well as any intermediate or new category races they can fit in.   We also have a trophy for a mixed over 55 crew.  Clubs are asked to identify which of the new categories (Novice, Fresher, “Second Crew”, Intermediate )  they wish to enter and the organisers  will try to accommodate as many as possible.  It is also anticipated that there will be a race for Under 17 crews.

On the Sunday there will be fun leisure rows, perhaps out to the Isle of Tanera for brunch at the shoreside cafe.   As ever the social side will be taken care of well, with marquee at the beach (lobster baps again this year?) and a minibus laid on to take folk from the excellently appointed shoreside campsite to the Community Hall and back for the Saturday night social.

 The campsite is beautifully situated with views out to the islands but also within a stones throw of the Fuaran bar/restaurant which normally does bacon rolls and coffee in the morning before racing.

Campsite: www.portabhaigh.co.uk/  – other accommodation www.coigach.com  for B&B or holiday cottages etc plus info about our beautiful area. Children very welcome.

To help the organisers, clubs are asked to please contact me, Lesley Muir, Club Secretary, as soon as possible and Iwill send a  course map and local map, Club entry form, racing schedule and everything else you will need to keep you happy!

Look forward to seeing you all!           lesley.muir@squidink.demon.co.uk

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Happy skiffin’ New Year!

The ‘Lily~Rose’ already has a personality to reckon with!

And two little personalities who couldn’t wait to climb inside her when she was formally ‘turned over’ on the 17th December 2012 …

Wee Lily and baby Rosie testing their joint namesake for stability.

What work has been put in over the past few weeks by Ali Beag, Alan and Mark mainly with occasional help from Dan, Ewan P, et al…

From this to …

this…

then thisand then…

…ready for her undercoat now – looking sooooo good…

and there; she’s over …to thunderous applause from local skiffies and friends, followed by drams and cake!

…and there she is the ‘Lily~Rose’ is turned- every inch bespeaking her Viking inheritance.

It’ll be ‘Watch out when the ‘Lily~Rose’ is about’ – a gentle name for a wee speed demon, just wait and see! The ‘Lass’ will have to look to her laurels in the coming season.

Wind and rain? Pah! It’s all about the ‘Lily-Rose’ build just now…

Under the winking, watchful eye of Neville’s time-lapse camera, the ‘Lily-Rose’ takes shape in the airy spaciousness of the Green’s shed at Achnahaird.

Ali Beag, one of the pair of craftsmen who masterminded the build of our lovely ‘Lass’, has been fair twitching to get going on this new skiff – and progress is swift under his canny eye.

Just like the ‘L-R’ will be when she hits the water next spring! Swift.

Alan and Mark, with Ali leading the build, have been firing on, with a little help from young Ewan Peach helping put the larch planks through the planer-thicknesser and myself doing wee bit of sanding and spreading glue on the larch sections ready to be glued together.Early days here, above – a photo from a few short weeks ago on my phone (barely able to cope with the over-enthusiastic lighting) showing Alan releasing the planks ready to be scarfed up.

Now we have a forest of clamps ensuring that the lovely, gluey layers of larch tightly laminate up into the Lily-Rose’s elegant stem and stern.             ( Sounds like an extract from 50 Shades..!)

Top clampage all round!

Anyway, Alan reckons she might be ready to turn over by Christmas!

An excuse there for a wee dram or two with some seasonal nibbles (that’s mince pies and mini-stollens – not under-mistletoe snogging) at the shed to celebrate. Ding dong merrily!

Mmm. And Ali Beag says that the larch we bought for this build is way better quality – no knots – than that with which the Lass’s stem and stern were built.   It will be interesting to see the slight character differences between the two boats developing as the build progresses.

With all this care and affection already being lavished, looks like the ‘L-R’ is going to be another lass to reckon with!