Loch Broom Skiff regatta – 2011
'Ulla' on Loch Broom
The Loch Broom leg of the St Ayles Skiff racing Calendar will take place over the Weekend of 13th/14th August.
Participants will be coming from the many communities involved in building and rowing these graceful boats. This page will be updated as we resolve the detail of the weekends activities. Once we finalize things various documents relating to the safety and organisation of the races will be posted here as downloadable files so keep checking back. The plan is to have a bit of a play on the water on the Friday (12th) evening for early arrivals, the serious stuff – racing – on the Saturday, between Ferry departure and return. Skiff launching will be a carefully marshalled exercise prior to boats being moved to the racing beach in front of the Arch Inn. Trailers will be parked parked safely on the main commercial pier and vehicles will be parked away from the front. Those booking space on the Broomfield camp site may be able to beach launch from the site – it will probably involve carrying the boat a short distance – we will investigate further and clarify.
Ullapool Regatta Course
High 07:45 (4.7m) Low 13:55 (1.1m) High 19:48 (5.1m)
Accepting that it will be difficult to better Coigach Skiffies trophy oars we intend to do something different – all boats will get points and we all know what points mean – prizes. As well as things on string for individual prowess there will be a Shield and a Crystal Bowl to be held by the most succesful boat/s until next years Loch Broom regatta, one generously sponsored by the Harbour Trustees for all comers and one for competition among the burgeoning Loch Broom Fleet from the Seaforth Inn. In addition to the general run of awards there will be Mystery Prizes – Mysterious because we don’t know what – yet. If the fishing looks good we will offer a prize for the skiff catching the most fish, in the afternoon after the races, so bring your fishing gear. There will be an award for the smartest boat and crew decided by general acclaim.
Prizegiving 8pm at the Village Hall, followed by a ceilidh dance with a local band and caller (bring your dancing shoes). The local shinty and rugby clubs are running a three legged fancy dress pub crawl with general knowledge questions at each stop, starting at 6pm, for the adventurous! Any skiffies taking part will need to take a break from it to collect their prizes at 8pm. POSTPONED. We will be running a bar in the hall from 7.30pm which includes local real ale, wine, cold lager and soft drinks, all at reasonable prices. Please don’t BYOB. Under 18′s, supervised, are welcome. Sunday will feature a boat born excursion to a remote Loch Broom beach (which one will be decided by the wind direction on the day) for a BYO picnic brunch/BBQ (we will provide the fire!) before groups start to wend their way home. Loch Broom is reasonably sheltered from the prevailing westerlies, the only conditions that would affect our plan is a strong blow from the East or South east – in that unlikely event we have a ‘plan B’ which will be disseminated a few days before the event if there is a likelihood of it being needed
We have limited participation to 10 Skiffs. Participants are shown below.
Our Regatta is taking place in peak tourist season and we strongly advise (can’t emphasise that enough) making your campsite or other accommodation booking as early as possible. Ullapool is small enough to run out of space in peak season so finding somewhere for Rowers and Camp followers in the village will be very difficult at short notice.
The Competing Skiffs
Ulla – Ullapool Coastal Rowing club - i.e. us
‘Cùl Mòr’ - Ullapool High School
Loki from the Loch Broom Sailing Club with her fearsome figurehead.
‘Skiff John B’ - from North Berwick.
Chippy McNish – from the Royal West withdrawn
Port Seton liked the rain and wind of the NW Highlands so much in May that they are coming in force and bringing both ‘Boatie Rows’ and ‘Boatie Blest’ for another blast.
The Coigach Lass from up the road
Portobello are coming with their lightweight rocket ship ‘Jenny Skylark’
Anstruther have decided that the NW is a must do withdrawn
and to complete the list of runners Stornoway are bringing their freshly splashed Madadh Ruadh across the Minch. withdrawn
Documents
The following downloadable documents detail the administrative and programme arrangements for the Regatta
Loch Broom 2011 Regatta Instructions - pdf file.
Rower Registration form will need to be completed on the day, save time by downloading it and filling it in before you get here.
Regatta Programme - pdf version of our programme
Sponsors
We are extremely grateful to the following sponsors without whose support it would not have been possible to run this event
Harbour Trust - for the ‘Ullapool Harbour Centenary Shield’ and unstinting practical help and advice.
The Seaforth Inn for the Seaforth Bowl
For financial contributions towards running expenses
The Ceilidh Place
Croan Seafoods Edinburgh
Falfish Cornwall
Inverbroom Estate
Kanaird Trading
Assynt House B&B, Mike & Liz
Ullapool Taxis, Graham & Lorene
Wester Ross Fisheries
and for contributing raffle prizes
Frigate & Ferry Boat Inn - a yummy food hamper
Invisible Heating - Glenmorangie
A bottle of Cherry Wine from Moniack Wineries
Possibly Useful Links
Ullapool Harbour
Ullapool Tourism and Business Association general local info and accommodation site
Ullapool Youth Hostel (SYHA)
Forestway Bunkhouse
Ullapool Farm B&B out at Leckmelm with cooking you dream of.
Broomfield Holiday Park – Ullapool’s Campsite on the shore of Loch Broom The one shown on the map above. Note: although this site doesn’t normally take bookings, we are hoping to arrange a block booking for part of the site. Watch for updated advice in a couple of weeks.
Ardmair Campsite, 3 miles N of Ullapool pretty spectacular and you can launch here for a spot of fishing or more practice.
Ullapoollastminute.com
North Berwick would love to take part please with at least one boat!
Clive
Royal West will be in attendance. Will be bringing Chippy McNish plus at least two crews and “hangers on”, would estimate 10-15.
Most will be camping but may need to find comfy beds for a couple of less than canvas happy wives.
Hi Topher and co. The portobello crew hope to be there , we will confirm in the next week.
Also are you going to come and row on the forth at some point? Portobello regatta 30th July..
In terms of race length, I think we would be in favour of slightly longer races, they’re more satisfying, and less of the faff changing crews! For the portobello regatta we intend on just having longer (15-20 min) races.
Hi,
Just to update from my last message, we have decided we (rowporty) are definitely going to come (if you’ll have us). We have at least 6 definite rowers, but intend on rounding up more folk and entering as much as we can!
Hello Ullapool
Anstruther have at least one crew and will be there – we will press-gang a few more into heading north again.
Very much looking forward to coming over to Ullapool at the weekend but the Programme download comes out, on my computer at least, in the textual equivalent of mince. Do I need a new computer or is there something wrong?
Not there is anything wrong with mince, its just not that easy to read.
Best Wishes,
Gareth
Cockenzie and PORT SETON