Sunny Stranraer

Stranraer was the next regatta in our busy rowing schedule, only two weeks after triumphing at Royal West. It was to be an early start for Marjorie Jeffrey and her merry bunch, departing Troon harbour at an unearthly hour.

Stranraer Coastal Rowing Club is a part of Stranraer Water Sports Association and is based on the shores of Loch Ryan on the beachfront in Stranraer. The club also has a sailing club dating back to 1844 when it had its first regatta. We hope the weather 180 years ago was much better than it was today! Like many of the sites visited by TCRC on their escapades, Loch Ryan is rich in history. It’s the place where in 1307 Robert the Bruce’s brother was defeated by the locals who didn’t take kindly to Bruce’s invasion fleet. In more recent times, during world war two, it was the base for Catalina flying boats hunting submarines and defending the Atlantic convoys. You may have been fortunate to see one of those at a past airshow locally or even last week when one flew over Scotland to honour John Cruickshank, former Catalina pilot and the last surviving Victoria Cross recipient from that time. A historic loch and hopefully more history (on a slightly smaller scale) to be made in coastal rowing.

The Coastal Rowing club was formed in 2018 when they completed their first skiff, Lady Bay. The club then went on a mere year later to host Skiffieworlds with nearly 3,000 participants from around the world and an estimated 30,000 spectators descending on the town. As you will all be aware, the club were successful in their recent bid to bring SkiffieWorlds back to Stranraer and they return in 2025.

A smaller regatta crew of eleven members were in attendance for the regatta.

Five clubs competed in the regatta including Stranraer, North Berwick, Portpatrick, Wigtown Bay and Troon.

The regatta consisted of a planned seven races each of approximately 2k in length around a triangular course with no lanes. There were two heats with Troon being selected for the second heat alongside Stranraer for each race. Well that was the plan and as usual it didn’t turn out that way.

The scene was set over a dull and overcast Loch Ryan with almost no wind and calm seas. There was a feeling that could change.

The first race of the day was the Open Men category with Christine C as cox with Kevin in stroke. Adrian took the 3 seat and Mike K took 2. Neil was in bow. The crew took off like lightning and raced around the course, with an ever duller Loch Ryan promising something extra. The guys raced across the finishing line an impressive 19 seconds clear of the hosts, Stranraer, who took second place in the overall rankings. Another win in the bag for TCRC and Marjorie Jeffrey.

The next race of the day was the Open Women. Mike R fresh from his mountaineering in the Alps, took the hot seat once more and was cox. Christine R took stroke (also via the Alps) and Christine C taking a break from shouting at crews took seat 3. Adrienne took 2 and Kathleen sat in bow.

It was at this point that Loch Ryan decided to make the day more interesting for its rowing visitors and remind us all that you can get wetter in the boat rather than out it. A valuable lesson for 2025. The mid race photo from our Sky News helicopter (aka Mike R) shows how the weather had turned. The crews had to follow the safety boat to find the first buoy visibility was so bad. Mike R describes the race perfectly. “The open women’s race was neck and neck against Stranraer right round the course, with us just in front at the first buoy. At the second buoy, we lost the lead to Stranraer by a boat length. Down the final straight to the line, I pushed the ladies as hard as I could, pressured the whole way by the Stranraer crew. In the last 50 metres, we overtook them and crossed the line 2 seconds ahead. An absolutely valiant effort by the Dream Team.”

The ladies finished third overall with an impressive North Berwick ladies team finishing an unbelievable 38 seconds ahead of Troon. Wigtown Bay took second place.

By the next race it felt like it was even raining underneath the marquee. The third race was the Open Mixed. Kevin took the cox seat for this race with Paul in stroke, Mike K in 3 Jacqui in 2 and Kathleen in bow. Conditions were only getting worse on the water. Kevin described the horrible conditions that the guys had to row in but was clear that “they rowed their hearts out and gained a 4^th place” North Berwick finished considerably ahead of the rest of the pack and were 52 seconds ahead of TCRC.

At this point the organisers took the sensible step of pausing the regatta due to poor conditions including poor visibility. After debating with the clubs, a new plan was agreed with a new course using the home stretch of the original course of approximately 700m. There would be no heats and just a straightforward sprint to the finish line.

The regatta competition was back on and it was a close thing! North Berwick were leading overall with 13 points and Troon and Stranraer next with 10 points each.

This was easily the wettest regatta of the season and Jacqui, after three changes of clothing, realised that it was something Stranraer were clearly very used to and had all the appropriate equipment handy. Let’s add one of these to our equipment list when we eventually get a clubhouse.

The fourth race of the day with this new course was the 240+Men.

Christine C was cox with Kevin in stroke. Adrian took seat 3 and, just like previously at Royal West, Adrienne stepped in to take seat 2 and show the boys exactly how it should be done. Neil sat in the bow seat for this race. Attention. Go. They were off to a flying start and romped down the course to finish a solid first and gain vital points towards the regatta trophy. Wigtown bay took second with North Berwick getting a third place.

The next race of the very very wet day was the 240+ Women with Mike R taking the cox seat. Christine C took stroke with Jacqui in 3. Adrienne, just to show she really is a legend stayed in the boat and took seat 2. Christine R sat in bow. Kevin described it as “another phenomenal race with a great first place finish”. Stranraer took second and North Berwick took third.

The race was on! Troon were now one point ahead of North Berwick in the overall competition and it was all down to the next race!

The last point scoring race was the 240+ Mixed and Mike R took the hot seat. Christine C was stroke with Paul in 3. Kevin sat in 2 and Kathleen took bow. No pressure guys!

It was a close thing and a hard fought race right across the finishing line. The cheers from the TCRC supporters, certain of the win, mixed with the North Berwick supporters who also thought they won. Talk about tension but eventually Troon were hailed as the winners of the race and therefore the overall regatta.