Scottish Coastal Rowing Project – Launch Day

Saturday 31st October 2009 saw the Official Launch of the SCRP with the prototype St Ayles Skiff in public view on the water for the first time. After some pretty poor weather in the previous week the day dawned fine and bright boding well for the day’s events. More than fifty people gathered on the beach at Anstruther Harbour for the Official Launch of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project. After the Skiff was beached with aplomb by the Methill Sea Cadets, David Tod, Chair of the SCRP Steering Group introduced Dr Robert Foster of St Andrews University and Vice President of The Scottish Fisheries Museum  who gave the launch speech. Refreshments were laid on in the Museum following the Official Business and various future Skiff building Groups took the opportunity to get a feel for the boat on the water. It was particularily good to see the boats designer, Iain Oughtred, getting some hands on feedback of his work. As a result of some prolonged discussion between the experts following the trials some minor changes will be made for the production boats – mainly the expansion of the spacing of the thwarts by a few inches to give room for a longer stroke and better distribution of the crews weight. Having an adult Cox tends to trim her down by the stern. Now that the first Skiff has been trialled the slight modifications to the design can be made and cutting of the first four kits ordered (which includes our first Ullapool Boat) commenced. We hope to have taken delivery and started construction in the next few weeks before Winter really sets in.

The Portobello Crew out in the Skiff for the first time

Click on thumbnails for the bigger picture

Methill Sea Cadets who very competently took first go with the Skiff

Designer of the St Ayles Skiff, Iain Oughtred, give the prototype a close examination

David Tod, Chair of the SCRP Steering Group, makes the introductions for the Project Launch

Dr Robert Prescott launching the SCR Project

Dr Robert Prescott officiates at the Launch of the SCRP

David Tod & Alec Jordan enjoying the launch speech

The launch scene

The Portobello crew trying out the Skiff

Portobello Crew returning to the beach in Anstruther Harbour

Heading for open waters

 A crew of Designer, Naval Architect & Boat builders in course of collecting performance data for later analysis. To maximise data collection a brief trip was taken on to the lumpier stuff outside the Harbour – much to the consternation of the (shore based) builder!