North Queensferry Boat Club’s first skiff is getting close to it’s completion stage due to the excellent productivity of the club’s principal boat builder Frank Wood. Just before Christmas 2011 Frank called Gordon Scobie, who kicked matters off at North Queensferry.  Frank had read an article in the local press and offered his practical assistance in building the skiff. Not only did he have the skills he had all of his own tools, he was retired and could come along every day if that was ok with the others!!!   Gordon Scobbie comments “ OK with us!?! it’s been a gods send. The manner in which Frank...

Here is a skiff down the carwash:

It did not take long for someone to rise to the challenge of suggesting the oldest crew to have been out in a St Ayles skiff.  The four rowers enjoying a gentle Saturday afternoon paddle in this pic are from South Queensferry.  Without counting the cox (who is half the age of the next youngest crew member) the total age of this crew of four lads is 270.  Can anyone beat that?  I think it must be the salt water that keeps them all feeling young.    

An octogenarian with octane, John Gray, at 80,  is an active member of Queensferry Rowing Club.  Here he is out for the new year’s day row in St Ayles skiff “Ferry Lass”.   John is also helping out with the building of QRC’s second skiff which is due to launch in the spring.  Age no object in Scottish Coastal Rowing.  Who has had the crew out with the greatest combined age?

Rowporty are having a winter social & ceilidh on Friday 27th January from 7.30 - 12.00 at Portobello Community Centre. Tickets are £10 which includes Haggis, Neeps & Tatties, an address to the haggis, singing and ceilidh dancing. Tickets are in short supply & going fast! So hurry & book yours now from Sybil, or contact any member of Rowporty. Permalink | Leave a comment  »

On Monday 7th Nov at around 9:30am five of us set off in the car and Jenny Skylark in tow to North Berwick. We launched from the beach (you can take the road trailer onto the beach down the slip outside the harbour) and set off at around 10:30am. We called the coast guard on channel 16 to let them know that St Baldred and Jenny Skylark, rowing skiffs, were heading to the Bass Rock, ETA 14:00hrs, 10 people. They wished us luck. We had 5 life jackets, VHF, anchor, large yellow...

In October 2009 Robbie Whiteman, convenor of the SCRA, attended a PS&KC meeting at the Beach House to explain the Scottish Fisheries Museum initiative to re-introduce rowing to the Forth through community boat building. Ali Grant & I immediately caught on to the idea and we discussed how we would go about it. I agreed to find a workshop space and buy the first kit from Alec Jordon in Anstruther. We were one of the first clubs to purchase the kit, which gave Alec the cash to buy some marine plywood. Ali...

Sunday had always threatened to be rainy, but would it be heavy / light & would it impede our plans to row down the Tay?   When Sunday dawned & Sally, Roisin, Andres, Neil & I met in the yard at 7am – it was wet. It rained most of the way to Perth, & it seemed intent on setting in for a thoroughly miserable day. We launched from the slipway of the Perth Sea Cadets, Anstruther were already there when we arrived, & North Berwick followed soon after. B ut ...

The 2012 family race will take place on January the 3rd 2012, teams will battle it out in a head to head knockout to become champions of the “jackie Robertson Quaich” which was kindly donated to the rowing club. Teams this year include defending champions Archies Offsprings along with regulars “the aitkens”, “murphia” “Bergs” “Doney Family Fearons” “Mariettas Team” “The jackeens” a newer addition to the family fleet, which comprises of Carmel Daly and her family (who are irish) hense name “the jackeens”. the usual cakes, tea coffee etc will all be on offer in the boatshed and the first...

Well done to Team Still Game for winning the quiz night on Saturday the 19th November. Around 60 people attended the event held in the Auld kirk Hall where many took part in games such as paper aeroplane making, pasta tower building, Throwing money at a bottle and around 10 teams entered the quiz. Isabell, Rebecca and Gareth all managed to win £5 from throwing their aeroplanes in the bucket. Whilst Roma Aitken won the Big box of sweets. There was a good mix of people from familiar faces to new faces and a good range of age. A thank you was made on the...

On a wonderful sunny october morning. Okay the October part is correct!  5 of our keenest rowers made the journey up to Perth to start rowing the Tay River. The plan was to Row from Perth to Newburgh (approx 8 mile) and then continue down to Wormit ( another 12). The crowd of 6 met at the boatshed at 7am and travelled to Perth. The boat was launched at the Sea Cadets slipway just up river from Perth Docks. The current was fast and the tide going out so the row was fast. A good pace was kept up and...

A group of around 20 made the journey to the fresh water resovoir at Whitadder to compete and socialise with our nearest neighbours. Boats from North Berwick and Dunbar attended along with crews from St. Abbs, Eyemouth and a under 19s team from Duns. Races took the shape of sprints with a buoy turn. Port seton Recorded wins in Mixed open, ladies open, and Mens and Ladies over 35. Our yougest rower Leo Enjoyed his first ever row and Victory as part of our under 19s team along with Maia, Cayryn and Kathryn. North Berwick dominated the mens open...