Month: July 2010
On Sunday, Icebreaker, crew, family and friends descended on Eyemouth to help the Eyemouth Community Rowing Project celebrate the launch of their first skiff – the bright yellow Unity.
It was a very windy day which made launching at the end of the beach a little more interesting than necessary. Port Seton was there with Boatie Rows, and North Berwick with the St Baldred.
The racing was great fun – and hard work in the strong wind and heavy chop. It sometimes seemed like more time – and energy – was spent getting the boats lined up to start than actually racing.
The Mixed Open team of Rosin, Dan, Maddy, Andres and Geoff (cox) beating Anstruther in the final. Full results here.
After the racing and before the barbeque kindly laid on by Eyemouth, the children had a jaunt – with icecream – around the harbour.
Many thanks to Eyemouth Community Rowing Project for inviting us down and laying on such hospitality – which started at midday with tea and cakes in their palatial workshop, where we had sight of the St Abbs boat being built and their collection of old lifeboat oars.
Ali Grant writes:
As most of you will be aware, the skiff project got a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, not only to build the 2nd skiff, but primarily to capture and document the history of rowing in Portobello. Myself and Bob Jefferson have been leading on this, sourcing previously unseen archive material and tracking down and interviewing members of the original rowing clubs, whose ages range from 77 to 93! This has resulted in us the donation of 2 old rowing boats and a set of oars.
Time has been against us in terms of having something ready for the regatta, but Bob has put together an illustrated talk which will take us all through the history of rowing in Portobello; how it got started, what it was like in its hey day, it’s demise and of course, how we have resurrected it.
This talk will take place on Thursday 22nd July at 6pm in the Community Lounge of Portobello Library. On that night, we will also have at least 3 of the original rowing club members present who can give you their experiences first hand and share their tips! We will have a selection of original memorabilia as well.
The event is limited to 50 places and some of those have been grabbed already. Therefore, if you would like to attend, please can you email me.
If it is over subscribed, we can repeat it at a later date.
The plan is to develop it into a DVD including footage of the regatta and other material we collect throughout the year.
Yours Skiff-tastically,
Ali Grant
Men’s rowing will start around 6.30 today (Tues 6th July) as some work is being done to the oars.
After the excitements of our outing to Portsoy we’re now getting organised in Portobello again:
Rowing
We now have several sessions each week for experienced and novice rowers – for race training or just for fun. Find out more…
Boat building
We’re building a second St Ayles Skiff and restoring a 1930s single man racing skiff. Whatever the level of your woodworking skills you can help – with expert guidance always at hand. Find out more…
Portsoy wasn’t all about racing. Camping and fishing was fun too.

































