2016 Regatta times and places

Thanks to all who came to and helped at our regatta, which was great fun. I have put a spreadsheet with the times and places here. Please note there is a page for each age category with tabs at the bottom.

2016 Regatta 28th and 29th May

Notice of Race:

Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club will be holding our regatta this year at the end of May since the World Championship at Strangford Lough will be held 25th – 30th July, close to our normal time of year.

16 skiffs are so far signed up and we have room for one more, first come first served!

As you come into the village, the wee pier on your left opposite the filling station is the place to launch your skiff. Space there is tight so we would ask people to get their boats off the trailer as quickly as possible and take the trailer to park in the High School grounds. The High School is about 400m away, turn right off the shore road and carry on 300m till you see the signs on your right.

Boats are to be pulled up at the West Shore St beach beyond the big pier, a row of about 400m. Clubs will find marker posts showing where they can make their base at the top of the beach.

There will be a ceilidh in the Village Hall on Saturday night.

Race course

Races will be held over a course of 2km on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th May, the same course as was used for the World Championship. See the Race Times document.

Start and finish will be from individual marks on a line running out from the beach.  Crews will then race across the loch to their own turning buoy, where they will turn 180 degrees before racing back to the start finish line.  Each boat will be in an unmarked lane between their start mark and their turn mark, and must as far as possible stay in that lane.

Crews approaching their turn must give way to crews coming out of their turn. This is set out in the rules of racing.

Rules of Racing

All racing will be held under the 2013 Edition of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association which should be viewed at http://scottishcoastalrowing.org/files/2013/03/Rules-of-Racing-2013-Edition.pdf

Starting will be by VHF radio so each cox must carry one. Mains sockets for recharging will be available.

The water around the racing will not be closed to other traffic, and when encountering other craft, crews must abide by the International Rules for Prevention of Collision at Sea.  In particular it should be noted that the Stornoway Ferry is restricted in her ability to manoeuvre when arriving and departing the Ferry Pier, which is beside the regatta race course.  Crews must keep clear of the ferry.

Racing is timed to avoid the ferry sailing times.  It is therefore essential that all races start on time, and it is the responsibility of crews to be ready to take position on the start line prior to the advertised start time. Any alteration to the ferry sailings will be reflected and announced in changed race times.

Camping and caravan pitches can be had near the race course at the Broomfield Holiday Park (which does not accept bookings but has always had camping space) or in a more secluded location 4 miles north of Ullapool at Ardmair Holiday Park, which does accept bookings.

We look forward to seeing new clubs for the first time and old friends once more!

Ullapool Regatta 2016 Race timetable

Friday 27th May

1900 sprints along the front, 250m, no entry needed, first come first served.

 Saturday 28th May

Low tide 0608 High tide 1226 (neaps)

0900 – 1000 registration at Race tent

1000 Cox’s briefing at Race tent

(0930 Ferry arrives, 1030 Ferry departs)

1100 60+ Mixed

1130 50+ Men

1200 U17 Boys (+U17 Girls if there are entries)

1230 50+ Women

1300 U19 Mixed

1330 60+ Men

1400 60+ Women

1430 50+ Mixed

1500 U19 Boys (+U19 Girls if entries)

1530 U17 Mixed

1700 Medals on the beach below the Refreshment tent

(1700 Ferry arrives, 1830 Ferry departs)

1900 BBQ at the Village Hall

2000 Ceilidh in the Village Hall

Sunday 29th May

Low tide 0708 High tide 1328

0900 – 1000 Registration at Race tent

1000 Cox’s briefing at Race tent

(no morning ferry)

1030 40+ Men

1100 40+ Women

1130 Open A Mixed

1200 40+ Mixed

1230 Open B Men (if there are entries)

1300 Open B Women (if entries)

1330 Open A Men

1400 Open A Women

1430 Open B Mixed (if entries)

1530 Medals on the beach

(later if heats needed)

(1700 Ferry arrives, 1830 Ferry departs)

We look forward to seeing you!

Topher Dawson on behalf of the UCRC.

In the bleak midwinter…

Ullapool is almost as close to the Arctic Circle as it is to London, giving us long summer days, some of them stretching more than 18 hours between sunrise and sunset.  Conversely, winter days are short, a few less than six and a half hours long.  Today, December 21, is the winter solstice – the shortest day of all.

Later this week the sun will rise a little earlier, set a little later, but there’s still a whole chunk of winter to get through before we can look forward to spring and a whole new season of rowing under blue skies and a warming sun.  Ever the optimist…

In the meantime, we can look back on an eventful and enjoyable 2015.

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Photographs by Michael, Robbie, Lorraine, Jonathan, and Anne Macrae and Alec Jordan.

Gallery Nov 2015

The arrival of the first serious snowfall this winter coincided with the Mixed 40+ training row.  Hardy skiffers or just plain daft?  Either way, it looks like they had fun.  Photographs by Michael MacDonald.

As a reminder of warmer days, also included is a photograph of Lesley and Craig’s wedding from May 2014 – the first UCRC wedding.

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Summer cruises into Ullapool

Topher, Tim, Paul, John and Jan had the unusual experience of rowing Cul Mor in sunshine tonight.

The passengers and crew of cruise ship, CSV Albatross, were delighted by their visit to Ullapool, describing it as a beautiful place, full of fresh air and sunshine.

Photographs by Fiona MacDonald.

Shieldaig Shenanigans

Mike and John in a pre-race cox discussion.

A warm welcome, changeable weather, and a day of mixed results lay in store for the Club at Shieldaig.

With over twenty members of the Club participating in the Regatta we were able to enter two boats in each of the five round-the-island races.  Special mentions must go to Donna who arrived as a supporter but ended up stepping in at at the last minute for the Women’s Mixed Age race, and to our two coxes – John and Mike – who were out for every race.

Tim gets on his race-face while Tom buckles up and Topher strides out before the Men’s Mixed Age race.

Although Coigach won overall, Ullapool’s Mixed 50+ team won the Race of the Day.  Cox, John McIntyre kept a cool head in a fiercely-fought race, during which Coigach’s skiff ran aground.  Lashed by torrential rain, Cul Mor raced to the finish with the Ulla team coming in a very respectable second.  Hats off to the Coigach team for showing great spirit by finishing the course once they had been pulled from the rocks.

The winning Cul Mor team, comprising Kathryn, John, Ian, Lorraine, and John (cox), was awarded a smart silver trophy and a cash prize of £100 which was donated to Club funds.

John watching Cul Mor from the shore.

A plentiful supply of tea, coffee and cake at the village hall kept everyone going, while the much remarked upon bacon and scallop rolls went down a storm.

Clan Chief, Ruaridh MacLennan piping the rowers through the finishing line was a lovely touch.

Clan Chief, Ruaridh MacLennnan valiantly piping in torrential rain.  Photograph by Anne Macrae.

Well done Shieldaig for organising an excellent day.

Paul enjoying the racing as the storm clouds gather.

PS Well done to Tom Grant for winning £20 in the hill race while we were there.

The following photographs of the day were taken by Robbie McFedries.

Ullapool Regatta 2015 in pictures: Part 2

40+ Mixed team.

Cul Mor.

John and John.

Chief John.

A photograph of Michael taking a photograph of Ulla.

Fiona in the umpire tent.

Action shot of Tim handing a baton to Mike.

Jan and Kate in the registration tent.

Michael the umpire.

Ulla.

Getting organised for the 40+ Men medal winners.

40+ Men bronze medal winners.

40+ Women bronze medal winners.

Under 19 Boys bronze medal winners, with Sheila trying to stay out of the photograph.

Michael taking a photograph of the Open Men gold medal winners.

Photographs by LG Thomson.

Ullapool Regatta 2015 in pictures: Part 1

Men 50+ pre-race pep talk.

Men 50+ heading for start line.

Men 50+ start line.

Jonathan commentating from the beach.

Men 50+ bringing it home.

60+ Mixed getting ready.

Cheryl the masseuse with Jo and Lisa.

Mixed decades men pulling Cul Mor out of the water.

Kathleen and Bev at the merchandise stall.

Lisa and Mike in the registration tent.

The great Ullapool CRC tradition of hauling the rope for the start line.

60+ Men setting off.

60+ Men winning team.

Kate and Anne from the 60+ Women team with cox Mike.

60+ Women team.

Topher in the umpire tent.

Kate hard at work in the registration tent.

The Right Stuff – 50+ Men gold medal winners

Mixed 50+ silver medalists.

60+ Women team – winners of the Kate Macphail Memorial Rose Bowl.

60+ Mixed team with medal organisers, Fiona and Sheila.

60+ Men gold medal winners.

Photographs by LG Thomson.

Ullapool CRC Regatta 2015 – Results

A big thank you from Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club to everyone who took part in and supported our 2015 Regatta.  You made it a memorable and enjoyable weekend.

The racing was top notch, and with several close finishes excitement levels were sky high. The 50+ Men and 60+ Men categories were particularly tight, with only one second separating first and second place in each race.

There were two seconds in it for the 40+ Mixed and Open Women, and three seconds in the 50+ Mixed and Open Men.

Best time of the day was in the 40+ Men category, with Coigach coming in at 11.49.

In total, eighteen clubs took part.  Coigach won overall with 129 points, Ullapool were second with 111 points, Crail third with 101 points.

More news and photographs of the Regatta will follow, in the meantime full results for all races are listed below.

Before the results, a word from Topher…

Coigach did very well and their junior teams are fantastic. We did well to take the Open Men, 60+ Men (ahem!), and the 50+ Men, and did well in the medals. I’d like to thank all the club members for all their efforts, the Harbour Trust for their generous sponsorship of the marquee, and Robert Hicks for the entertainment.

Cheers, Topher.

Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club

1. Ullapool 12.24
2. Coigach 12.25
3. North Berwick 12.28

50+ Women

1. North Berwick 13.36
2. Crail 13.58
3. Coigach 14.00

60+ Mixed

1. Coigach 13.41
2. Ullapool 14.07
3. Rowporty 14.24

Under 17 Boys

1. Coigach 5.44
2. Crail 6.37

Under 19 Mixed

1. Coigach 6.27
2. North Berwick 6.54

60+ Men

1. Ullapool 13.06
2. Crail 13.07
3. Coigach 13.20

60+ Women

1. Ullapool 15.18

50+ Mixed

1. Helmsdale 12.25
2. Ullapool 12.28
3. Coigach 12.38

40+ Men

1. Coigach 11.49
2. North Berwick 12.02
3. Ullapool 12.09

40+ Women

1. Crail 13.15
2. Rowporty 13.44
3. Ullapool 13.48

Open Mixed

1. Coigach 12.03
2. Ullapool 12.14
3. Bunillidh 12.21

Under 19 Boys

1. Coigach 5.41
2. Helmsdale 5.53
3. Ullapool 5.54

Under 17 Mixed

1. Coigach 6.06
2. North Berwick 6.22
3. Rowporty 6.49

40+ Mixed

1. Coigach 12.21
2. Crail 12.23
3. Boatie Blest 12.36

Open Women

1. Avoch 13.43
2. Coigach 13.45
3. Islay 13.52

Open Men

1. Ullapool 11.57
2. Coigach 12.00
3. Islay 12.25

Photograph by Michael MacDonald

Race Categories for Ullapool Regatta 2015

2014 Regatta

Friday

1100 50+ Men

1130 50+ Women

1200 60+ Mixed

1330 U17 Boys

1400 U19 Mixed

1500 60+ Men

1530 60+ Women

1600 50+ Mixed

Saturday

1100 40+ Men

1130 40+ Women

1200 Open Mixed

1330 U19 Boys

1400 U17 Mixed

1500 40+ Mixed

1530 Open Men

1600 Open Women