Bringing back coastal rowing 17/4/14
A Lewis rowing club has successfully secured funds to build its first boat.
Eathar Coastal Rowing Club plans to build a 22 foot long St Ayles Skiff from a plywood kit.
It has also organised a mini festival of rowing in May with three visiting boats
and rowers from the Scottish Coastal Rowing Community -
Half hour rowing sessions will take place on Saturday 10th May, on Loch a Bhaile, Shawbost. No experience is required.
A rowing club spokesman said: “Sadly these boats and seafaring skills associated have been absent on this coast for up to forty years.
“This initiative hopes to restore a neglected part of this sea and loch culture that has been a hallmark of Hebridean life, from the Vikings, through the clans to the more recent communally operated long line fishing boats of the 19th century.
“To see crews, in locally built boats, row out of Siabost bay once again will to be a great achievement. An Eathar looks forward to exploiting the health, social and economic benefits that traditional boat rowing offers.”
Scottish Coastal Rowing is taking Scotland by storm. Clubs organise regattas which attract large numbers of visitors. Ullapool Rowing Club attracted 1000 rowers and 31 skiffs to attend the Worlds Championships which they hosted last year in Ullapool, which was a tremendous boost to local businesses. The small Achiltiebuie club attracts 15 boats with 300 rowers to its event in May each year.