All pictures courtesy of Sybil Bacica
Four years ago, it didn’t even exist as a sport — or even an activity. However, what started as Scottish Coastal Rowing has grown to international proportions. And this week, it’s also been given Royal approval when Princess Anne launched the first ever World Skiff Championships in Ullapool.
Princess Anne opens the World Skiff Championships in Ullapool
There were crews from Australia and North America, from the Netherlands and even from England who joined the many Scottish clubs in the waters of Loch Broom. The weather was glorious for this opening event. The Princess arrived by helicopter and then was taken on a Rigid Inflatable Boat our into the loch where the boat performed a “row-past”.
Back on dry land, representatives of each of the crews were introduced to the Princess along with the obligatory speeches. The event is being run by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association, with sponsorship from Ullapool Harbour Trust, Aberdeen Asset Management, the Highland Council, and a wide range of local partners.
One of the most unusual skiffs on show is The Sephira, a boat built in Pennsylvania which also doubles as a musical instrument. Claimed to be able to “sing to the whales”, she is a normal St Ayles skiff but with a large carved head on its prow from which eight long piano wires have been stretched which can be plucked like a harp.
Katya Bacica of RowPorty is presented to Princess Anne. A member of each club met her
As the Caledonian Mercury has reported before, St Ayles skiffs are 22ft long wooden rowing boats crewed by four oarsmen and women plus a cox. The boats were introduced by the Scottish Fisheries Museum at Anstruther in an effort to encourage a resurgence wooden boat building; it also wanted to see more activity on its local waters off the Fife coast once common in the area.
The skiffs are built from a kit, supplied by a firm in East Wemyss, which means they can be put together with a basic knowledge of DIY. Most of the club members get together to raise the money to buy the kits (some of have more than one boat). They then form community groups to build it. Group members come from all walks of life, with most having little or no experience in boatbuilding or rowing.
Further information on all aspects of the championships is available at www.skiffieworlds.com