Cumbrae Success – Yessss!!!!!!
Posted: August 18, 2010 Filed under: Iain Oughtred, Scottish Coastal Rowing, St Ayles Skiff 3 Comments »A small group of die hards travelled the 250+ miles from Ullapool to Millport on Cumbrae, idyllicly situated in the Firth of Clyde, to join in the Galgael party – the Dorna project Sail and oar Festival – to show off our St Ayles Skiff ‘Ulla’.
Weather was perfect – for the rowing part – the sailors whistled a lot to little avail, flat calm and once the Sun broke through on the Saturday a scorcher of a weekend. The People were the best, lots of music, food, a bevy or three, and a weekend of superlative craic. Boats arrived by sea and road/ferry from Spain, Ireland, East and West Scotland and all points in between.
Impressive rowing displays from the Basque Sardine fishing boat Ameriketatik and the Irish curragh Columcille gave us a few ideas to improve our performance, watching Columcille spin in her own length was one of the showstoppers.
A bit of Skiff racing took place on Saturday using ‘Ulla’ and ‘Boatie Rows’ (Port Seton) with teams from RWSABC, Portsoy, Ullapool and Port Seton. The modifications that have been made to ‘Ulla’ seem to have at last brought her up to speed – we didn’t return North empty-handed. We also did quite well on the crab catching front . . . ..
The Victorious Ullapool team
The Trophy
It was great to see the backs of our rivals from Port Seton at long last – they have seen our backs far too often and to meet new friends from future Skiff groups. It was great to see so many people having a go at rowing, RWSABC had ‘have a go’ sessions running all weekend in their traditional real wood boats – watching them in action on Sunday’s round Little Cumbrae row was a good argument for light ply construction. Thanks go to Galgael for superb organisation with a very laid back tone and all the various groups who brought their boats along. There were rumours circulating that the event may be repeated next year – YES Please. A fantastic location but, as always, it’s the great people that make these events so superb. Those Skiffies who were unable to go missed a brilliant weekend.
An album of snaps will be posted in a few days so please come back later
The Sail & Oar event on Cumbrae was one of the most enjoyable events on the Island for many a long year (not just my comment but that of many Millportonians and visitors)
Just to see wooden boats again rowing and sailing in the bays was great and the sight of the Irish curragh (10 oared galley) and Orcuan the Highland war galley sweeping in to the bay gave just a hint of the terror that local populations must have felt as raiding parties headed for their village in times past. Of course the drums and piper of the mighty Albanach helped to make the hairs on your kneck stand on end.
Your own St Ayles skiff put on a great show and I was able to follow them on their row around Wee Cumbrae in the accompaning safety RIB. Please pass on a big ‘thank you’ to your whole team for adding their presence to this exciting event.
Charles
We hugely enjoyed the event, found the location superb and the people exceedingly friendly and welcoming. The energy that seemed to emanate from all quarters was amazing and it was wonderful to see so much local support. We look forward to returning next year – it is happening again next year isn’t it? – and campaigning ‘Ulla’ against the Cumbrae Skiff. Hopefully the rest of the Skiffie Groups are now aware of the brilliant weekend that we and Port Seton enjoyed that they will be unable to resist! Thank you for the hospitality that Milport extended to all.
Regards
Chris
Oh and the way you organised the weather was brilliant – same again next year please.
Yes! We are applying in advance for the same weather conditions for next year’s event.
I have a couple of picture galleries for those who couldn’t make it, they are at:
Day 1 is here http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/milli0508/SailOarOnCumbraeDay1?feat=email#
Day 2 is here http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/milli0508/SailOarOnCumbraeDay2?feat=email#
I was in the RIB as your boat rowed around Wee Cumbrae.
Cheers
Charles