The Largs Annual Regatta was set to be a busy day for the small team of eleven rowers and one bosun who travelled west on Saturday 14 July with seven heats and potentially seven finals as well as a long distance race in memory of Duncan Winning,  one of the founders of Firth of Clyde Coastal Rowing Club (FOCCR), scheduled.

 

In glorious sunshine and a breeze which made the sea conditions interesting, North Berwick managed to qualify for every final before lunch. Everybody had rowed at least twice out and back along the 500m course which was actually nearer 1km!  Muscles were certainly warmed up.

 

So running a bit behind time the selected long distance cox for North Berwick, Clive (with his cup of tea), gathered his two men and two women for the 3km race.  Off the boats went giving those not racing or coxing a welcome rest which turned out to be longer than expected as the 3km race was 6km! Bit of a pattern developing here.  To our delight the winning crew of the Duncan Winning Challenge in the Prestwick boat turned out to include our very own Andy. Well done Andy.

 

With North Berwick in every final the rowers knew they were going to burn some calories in preparation for the visit to Nardini’s scheduled for after the regatta.  Arran and Royal West Coastal Rowing Clubs seemed to be battling it out in the finals taking three wins each and North Berwick winning the 50+ Women’s race. But it was North Berwick who packed up the boat with the warm glow of success after being overall winners of the Largs Regatta 2018 seven hours after the first race. Time for Nardini’s

 

In traditional form the North Berwick crew made their way to the famous fish and chip eatery to exchange stories of how many races they had rowed in and how many hours of rowing they had done.  Numbers varied and grew as time went on and pints were drunk but it was generally accepted that another good day was had at Largs