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Don’t fancy rowing in this weather?

They keep rowing through the winter in Finland:

Portobello High Street seemed icy enough this evening – but can we get a sled big enough for four rowers and an cox built in time?

Thanks to Rowing for Pleasure

Alternatively perhaps we could fit snow tires to these:

Perhaps we could even get a five seater version – a quindem? – and the crew could tow Icebreaker to regattas next year?

Of course there’s no need for RowPorty to remain earth- or water-bound:

Apparently this world first human-powered-flapping-wing-flying-machine uses the same mechanism as the tandem above.

Something’s happening in the workshop

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We have been busy lately with the building of the second skiff and doing some repairs to Icebreaker. Nik Savage has been working away with some hard core volunteers on getting the second plank glued despite the cold dark evenings. We are on target to finish the planking after Xmas and turn the boat at in January, but because the workshop is not heated or connected onto the grid we may find it too cold for the glue to set, which might set us back a month.  

At the same time Nick Johnson and Andres and others have been repairing the gunwales, which had began to de-laminate due to the inappropriate use of metal pins! We took this opportunity to reinforce our gunwales by gluing another strip of larch on the inside of the gunwales where the oarlocks are. At the same time we replaced the aft metal pin with proper wooden ones, replacing the routhes as we went.

Buy a raffle ticket: eat out, eat veg, wear wool, go to work!

Just some of the raffle prizes at our fundraising ceilidh on Saturday 20th November:

A £20 voucher to spend at Tiso
The outdoor specialists

Dinner for two with a bottle of wine at the Espy
Looking over the sands of Portobello, across the seas of the Firth of Forth to the Kingdom of Fife, the Espy has great food, a relaxed atmosphere with great service

A £20 voucher to spend on tea and cakes at the Beach House donated by Andres

Dinner for two at The Grainstore Restaurant
The very best of Scottish Produce prepared ‘a la main’ – individually cooked to order with accompanying sauces prepared on the spot

Photographic portrait session and one print, by Miles Tubb
As part of his work for the Living Memory Association, Miles photographs people and places. Miles Tubb, 07504 616369

Organic fruit and/or vegetables, East Coast Organics
East Coast Organics is Scotland’s highly awarded organic farm & vegetable delivery service

Merino clothing, Icebreaker
Award winning technical clothing from sustainable, pure merino wool

One months membership, The Melting Pot
The Melting Pot Edinburgh provides spaces for individuals and organisations to work, connect, meet and hold events

And more…

Buy your raffles tickets from Rowporty members – look out for them in the High Street on Saturday.

Thanks to all the companies and people who have donated prizes.

 

Mystery raffle prizes revealed

Just some of the mystery raffles prizes at our fundraising ceilidh on Saturday 20th November have been unveiled:
Photographic portrait session and one print, by Miles Tubb
As part of his work for the Living Memory Association, Miles photographs people and places. Miles Tubb, 07504 616369
Organic fruit and/or vegetables, East Coast Organics
East Coast Organics is Scotland’s highly awarded organic farm & vegetable delivery service

Merino clothing, Icebreaker
Award winning technical clothing from sustainable, pure merino wool
One months membership, The Melting Pot
The Melting Pot Edinburgh provides spaces for individuals and organisations to work, connect, meet and hold events
Many more exciting prizes will be won! Buy your raffles tickets from Rowporty members – look out for them in the High Street on Saturday.
Thanks to everyone who has donated prizes.

 

Regatta to return in July 2011

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The last weekend in July (30th/31st) will see St Ayles Skiffs from across Scotland returning for another Portobello Regatta.

With several communities building skiffs for the first time, and with many now building their second boat – we hope we’ll be seeing numbers in double figures, up from five in the first year of the revived historic regatta.

With Portobello’s long sandy beach, sheltered from the prevailing wind, we have a superb venue for skiff racing – for teams, supporters and spectators.

For this event we’re planning some longer races with larger numbers in each heat. The course will be laid out to provide exciting views from the beach of the turns around the bouys – and of what’s becoming the classic Portobello finish – straight on to the beach!

A superb win for the Mixed Open at North Queensferry

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On Saturday 11 September Icebreaker joined the North Queensferry Tradional Boat Festival.

She set off rowing from Portobello beach in the the morning, but the wind got up and by the time they reached Granton the head wind was just too strong to row against. Telephone calls were made and the trailer brought from Portobello and the journey continued by road.

Racing at North Queensferry was over a very short, windy and choppy course – and Portobello won the mixed open against Port Seton:

Superb rowing – just look at the timing in the video – well done guys and gals!  And a great video of the race – and I can’t help but enjoy the final segment as Icebreaker crosses the line – and the camera pans round, empty water, pans round more, more empty water, oh and there’s Boatie Rows.

As well as the racing there was rowing under the famous bridges. Thanks to North Queensferry for a great day out.

Rowing sessions

To get ourselves a little more organised and avoid people turning up for rowing and finding no space in the boat – we’ve set up a calendar and booking system.

The calendar shows all the training sessions – and other events – and you can book a space in the boat. You can even choose to have a reminder emailed to you, or to add it to your own online calendar.

To book your space, you’ll need to log in to the system (called BigTent) – the first time you’ll need to set up an account. While this is an extra layer of technology we feel it’s a small price to pay for keeping track of all the sessions – and ensuring people can row then they planned!

Here’s the place you need to go… and remember to click ‘RSVP to this event’ to book your space!