Preparing for our first Regatta
The Newhaven Coastal Rowers has been launched to encourage everyone in the local community to take part in a very special and exciting project – we have build and are racing our skiff!
Why you ask? We think it is important to further nurture and grow the once vibrant community spirit that was evident in and around Newhaven. We hope a rekindled sense of belonging will promote a pride in the area which will benefit the whole community.
Through this project, the Newhaven Coastal Rowers, working with local schools, community groups and businesses in the area, wish to take a step forward towards this aim.
Reviving an old sport
The Scottish Coastal Rowing Project is a new initiative supported by The Scottish Fisheries Museum to restart inter-community rowing competitions around Scotland, with the intention that the communities who want to race the boats will build them as well!
Additionally in March 2010 we were accepted as an affiliated club of Scottish Rowing.
Newhaven [see photo's of Newhaven] has a long maritime history and the traditional activities of the area are sadly now in decline. The Newhaven Coastal Rowers wish to recreate and commemorate this heritage – we think it fitting that a new boat should be built, launched and raced here.
The boat, the St Ayles Skiff, is a fast, safe, attractive boat available for building as a kit at a relatively modest cost. The design was commissioned by The Scottish Fisheries Museum and designed by Ian Oughtred, a renowned small boat designer based on Skye.
How can you help?
To make this project a success – to build, launch and compete our very own Newhaven St Ayles Skiff – we need volunteers, materials and funds.
We aim to get as many local schools, community groups and businesses involved as possible.
If you wish to volunteer, donate materials or provide sponsorship please contact us at: skiff@mapix.com
