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Author: Malcolm
Help us mark the first Portobello Regatta for over forty years on Saturday & Sunday 24th & 25th July.
Portobello’s Icebreaker will be racing against boats from Achiltibuie, Anstruther, Port Seton, North Berwick and Eyemouth.
The races in these traditionally inspired five man rowing boats is exciting to watch as they start and finish on the beach.
On Saturday, racing from 12 noon to 5pm.
On Sunday, racing from 10am to 1pm.
We’ll also be joined by an Irish Currach – one of the earliest forms of boat – from Tollcross, and by boats from the Portobello Sailing & Kayaking Club.
Come and join the fun on Portobello beach – between Bath Street and Bellfield Street.
Hi all,
Attached is the rota for saturday, see you then. MaddyJust to remind everyone that there will be training on Saturday from 9.30 am- email me to get on the rota.
There is a possibility that Icebreaker is going on a pleasure row to inchkeith island on Sunday, weather dependent, so may not be about for taster sessions, but I will keep you updated. Maddy Sent from my iPhoneOn 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.
Hello Skiffers,
Just to remind you about mid-week rowing:
Men on Tuesday Evening (Email Andres is you can make it)
Women on Thursday Evening (Email me if you can make it – maddy@corbin.co.uk). Due to the skiff meeting at 8 pm on thursday, we will aim to be on the water at 6 pm in order to get a good row in.
See you thursday,
Maddy
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
RowPorty 