On the Monday before the regatta we thought it highly likely that we would be cancelling our 2026 regatta. The Troon weather got us in 2025, and it was looking like it would get us again. That would have been a tragedy when you consider the amount of preparation that goes into getting ready for it. Preparation isn’t only on land when you stop and consider the amount of blood, sweat and tears that crews go through training for the day. Rowing in your own regatta brings that extra bit of pressure for these guys. We know all the participating clubs would be training hard also. So, in the remaining days, people were watching the sky and numerous dubious forecasting systems to guess what the weather was going to be. By Thursday there was a welcome improvement in the weather and we took the decision to go for it.
The days preparation started early on Saturday getting the boats ready. TCRC had agreed to loan Marr Voyager to Royal West / Royal Gourock for the day so we had double boat preparation. The TCRC machine was in full operation with beach litter picking, guest welcoming, marquee erecting and general movement of a mountain of equipment onto the beach.
An impressive 17 TCRC members were on the rowing schedule for the day.
Six teams competed in the regatta:
Stranraer
Ayr Renegade
Royal West & Royal Gourock
Troon
Wigtown Bay
FOCCRC
The regatta comprised of 10 races. The first eight started from the beach and head South to do a starboard turn around the first buoy heading for the next buoy for another starboard turn and a dash to the next buoy for a final starboard tun towards the beach. The last two races were a mad dash from the start line towards the beach.
The first race of the day was the Open Mixed. Sally took the Cox seat and Anne was in stroke. Euan was in 3, Derek in 2 and Jacqui was in bow. It was a tough race against great competition and Ayr Renegade crossed the line in first place. Wigtown Bay came home in second and FOCCRC in third place. Our Troon team gave it their all and finished in fifth place.
The next race was the 220+ Men and another fast race. Christine was in the Cox seat and Mike D in stroke. Paul rowed in 3 with Brian behind him in 2 and Michael in the Bow seat. What a race this was with the guys comfortably storming across the line in first place with Stranraer behind them in second place. Ayr Renegade crossed the line in third place.
Race 3 of the day was the Open Women. Sally returned to the Cox seat with Adrienne taking stroke for this race. Ruth was in 3, Lorna in 2 and Lizzie sitting in Bow. This was another tough one against strong competition. FOCCRC stormed across the finish line with Stranraer close behind and Troon following to take a fabulous third place.
The next race was Open Men. Christine took the Cox seat with Kevin in stroke. Adrian sat in 3, Euan in 2 and Mike D in Bow. Another tough and fast race with Troon crossing the line in first place followed by Stranraer in second and FOCCRC in third.
The fifth race of the day was the 220+ Women. Adrian was in the cox’s seat for this one and Ruth took stroke. Christine took seat 3, Adrienne took seat 2 and Louise was in Bow. A tough race with clashing oars saw Stranraer cross the line in first place. Troon raced across in second place with Wigtown Bay and FOCCRC charging across in joint third place.
It was time for a well-deserved break for everyone and the race was now to the tent for an incredible range of edible goodies donated by members. It was also time for Eilidh, our junior members champion, to convince even more people to part with their money for raffle tickets. When I heard her tell a lady “Yes we accept Euros” I knew it was in safe hands.
The next race up was the Mixed Decades. Christine was back in the Cox seat again for the day and Adrienne was in stroke. Michael took 3, Euan took 2 and Ruth sat in Bow. Another great race and every team fought hard. Troon triumphed and crossed the finishing line with Wigtown Bay in second place, followed by FOCCRC in third.
The seventh race of the day was the 240+ Women. Mike D jumped into the Cox seat with his aim of sitting in every seat in one regatta. Christine was stroke with Sally in 3, Louise in 2 and Jacqui in bow. No regatta would be complete without a wee adventure story, and this was no exception. Mike D decided to head for buoy 3 after turning at buoy 1 then realised his mistake and rerouted to buoy 2. Despite his little “Mike D-tour”, Troon crossed the line in first place with a few extra meters under their belts. If only his old job involved direction and navigation…. Stranraer raced home in second place and Ayr Renegade took third.
The last scored full team race of the day was the 240+ Men. Christine was back in her usual spot as Cox with Kevin in stroke. Adrian was in 3, Brian in 2 and Paul took the bow seat. The guys did us proud and crossed the line in first place to secure the TCRC 2026 Regatta trophy. Ayr Renegade finished second in the race beating Stranraer by centimetres across the finish line. What a great race that was for second and third place. Well done guys.
The last two races of the day were the Cox pairs. These were straight full-on races from the start line offshore heading for the beach, finish line and screaming supporters. Unfortunately our friends at FOCCRC had to withdraw when one of their seats broke prior to the race.
First up was the Women’s Coxed Pairs. Ruth was in the Cox seat with Lorna and Lizzie in the boat poised to row their hearts out. Everyone in their respective boats gave it their all with Stranraer romping home in first place, Troon in second and Wigtown Bay in third.
Next up was the Men’s Coxed Pairs. Ruth stayed in the Cox’s seat and Mike D and Euan took their place in the boat. The last race of the day was another success for Troon with the guys crossing the line in first place. A great finish for TCRC. Ayr Renegade finished second and Wigtown Bay took third.
Troon finished overall with 10 points to take first place in the regatta. Stranraer finished in second place with 16 points. Ayr Renegade and FOCCRC finished joint third with 21 points.
It was great to see many of our club members along to support the home regatta despite the weather. We also love it when family members pop along to say hello and cheer on the club. We think Lorna’s lovely gran, Margaret Campbell, might have been the oldest supporter of the day at a sprightly 95 but unfortunately, we failed to convince her to join the regatta crew. She was happy to cheer us all on though.
We think it was a great regatta, and the other clubs were fantastic competitors. The competition was fierce with teams often “giving away” many years to competitors and still winning or fighting all the way to the line. Feedback from the other clubs was hugely positive and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves on the day. A real success for TCRC and coastal rowing.
Forthcoming Regattas
The next regatta is on Saturday 13th June at Port Seton. The guys would love you to join them and support TCRC at the regatta.
Troon Coastal Rowing Club were saddened to hear of the passing of one of our long-standing members, James Letton.
Jimmy was at Troon Coastal Rowing Club from the very beginning, and he and Kirsty spent many a day both on and off the water supporting the club.
Jimmy stood on the slipway at Troon in 2011 and proudly watched the launch of Marr Voyager. From that fabulous beginning, Jimmy and Kirsty continued to participate and support Troon Coastal Rowing Club.
A poem for Jimmy and his love of the sea
Today I go back to the sea
And the wind-beaten rise of the foam.
Today I go back to the sea—
And it’s just as though I were home.
It’s just as though I were home again
On this ship of iron and steam,
And it’s just as though I have found again
The broken edge of a dream.
(Written by Langston Hughes)
A number of club members attended Jimmy’s funeral at Holmsford Bridge Crematorium, Irvine on Thursday 11th June. We were reminded of his joy for life and passion for the sea as he made his very own ‘Jimmy request’ for bright colours to be worn and donations to be made to St Abbs Lifeboat.
Our thoughts are with Kirsty, Avril, Keith and family at this difficult time.
Troon Coastal Rowing Club has submitted its first Trustees’ annual report to OSCR, the Scottish Charity Regulator. This is the first year as a charity, built upon the foundations of a successful local coastal rowing club. The report forms part of our annual charity return.
A note from Christine Collins, our chair:
It gives me great pleasure to present the first annual report of Troon Coastal Rowing Club SCIO. This has been a significant year for the organisation: a year in which we moved into a new charitable structure
while continuing to build on the energy, commitment and goodwill that have shaped the club since its earliest days. What stands out most clearly is that our impact goes far beyond rowing itself. Through
training, volunteering, competition, maintenance, partnership working and friendship, the club continues to create opportunities for people to connect, contribute and thrive. I would like to thank every member,
volunteer, supporter and partner who has helped make this possible. Their commitment has ensured that TCRC enters its next chapter with confidence, ambition and a strong sense of purpose.
Troon Coastal Rowing Club were saddened to hear of the passing of one of our founding members, Allan Benwood.
Allan was at Troon Coastal Rowing Club from the very beginning and as you can see from the small selection of photos here, he was involved in all aspects of the club.
Allan championed coastal rowing and was proud of the work to encourage young people to get involved in the traditional skills of boat building and getting out on the water.
Allan attended the Skiffie World Championships in July 2025 proudly supporting his club. Although he was a spectator on the day, you could still see the glint in his eye wanting to get out on the water and show those other clubs what TCRC could do. Allan and his buddy, Jim Palmer, sat on their thrones together on top of SkiffieHill, proudly wearing their purple kit, and yelling the guys across the finishing line.
A poem for Allan (by Philip Kuepper) that reminds us that our wonderful equipment, boats and oars, is lovingly crafted and maintained and every cut, paint and varnish is also a memory of those that came before us.
The Oars of Memory
The sudden clatter
of oars turned heads.
The rack that held them
had collapsed,
oars, heavy with the history
of the waters they had rowed,
oars, heavy with the imprints
of the hands of their rowers.
Heavy is memory,
heavy with memories,
with acts, committed, in time.
They were oars that knew
practice rows,
rows, contested,
rows, for pleasure only.
The heats of the rows was on the oars,
varnishing them to a shine.
And as they collapsed, clattering,
they glittered in the young light,
like, like a recruit,
eager to put right,
what accident had brought,
unanticipated, on the scene.
So when you are on the water next and gripping that oar, take a minute to remember Allan.
A number of club members attended Allan’s funeral in Edinburgh and his family reminded us all of his love for TCRC by asking for all donations to be made to “his much-loved Troon Coastal Rowing Club”. A wonderful £405 was raised for the club. Thank You. x
Our thoughts are with Allan’s family at this difficult time.
Troon Coastal Rowing Club were saddened to hear of the passing of one of our founding members, Alan Farrell.
Alan was a stalwart of the club, rowing, boat building, supporting members and enjoying the camaraderie of coastal rowing.
When once asked to name his dream team for rowing, he selected Captain Bligh as Cox with Noah on stroke, a Viking chief in 3, captain Edward Smith in 2 and Captain Pugwash in Bow. We loved that crew selection and think it brilliantly shows his wicked sense of humour.
Alans funeral is at Holmsford Bridge crematorium on Thursday 20 November at 11.30 and afterwards at South Beach Hotel.Alan is being cremated in his club uniform and members are invited to attend the funeral in the club uniform.
A poem for Alan (Original by M.Gregory and adapted for Alan by his friends at the club)
In my skiff I find peace On the water, all is calm The rhythm of the oars release All the stress and all the qualms.
With every stroke, I feel so free As I glide across the waves The world and its worries, I can see Drifting away in a haze.
The wind whispers secrets to me As I row under the open sky And the beauty of nature, I can see In the sunsets and the birds that fly.
So I row, and I am at peace This is my world; this is my wealth And I know this joy will never cease In my skiff, I am truly myself.
Fair winds and following seas Alan. x
Our thoughts are with Babs and family at this difficult time.
It would be a herculean task to try and describe 7 days at SkiffieWorlds 2025 but it does feel appropriate that we try and record something for future members to look back on. The 2025 World Championship for the St Ayles class of coastal rowing boat took place between Sunday 6th July and Saturday 12th July at Stranraer on Loch Ryan.
Stranraer 2025 was the fifth World Championship with the first being held in Ullapool in 2013. At this inaugural event, 32 boats took to the water with TCRC proudly taking part. Coigach Coastal Rowing Club from Achiltibuie won the overall championship.
Taking part every three years, the event then took place in:
2016 Strangford Lough 43 clubs Winners: Dundrum
2019 Stranraer 57 clubs Winners: Dundrum
2022 Kortgene, NL 54 clubs Winners: Dundrum
2025 Stranraer 79 clubs
Troon Coastal Rowing club has taken part in 4 of the 5 championships, only missing the one in Kortgene, which is fantastic for a small local club. The small town of Stranraer was buzzing last week with thousands of skiffie mad people and their friends and families and it was simply awesome.
Twenty members of Troon Coastal Rowing Club were scheduled to row in the championships over the week.
The club entered thirteen of the twenty five different race categories available.
The course was 2k comprising of a 1k run followed by a 180 degree turn to starboard and 1k back to the finish line.
Arriving on Sunday 6th you could feel the excitement in the air. Stranraer Water Sports Association (SWSA) and the many volunteers had done a great job in setting everything out and first stop was unpacking and boat scrutineering.
Joining Marjorie Jeffrey, Marr Voyager was crewed by Blue Hill Community Rowing from Maine who had travelled from America to take part in the competition. These guys were great and you couldn’t lose them in their bright yellow hats.
Once emptied of all their gear, MJ weighed in at a slim 157kg and MV at 191kg. We put the heavier weight down to the weight of past victories and experience soaked into MVs planks and gladly accepted that.
Once weighed, prodded, checked, admired and rudders measured (the boats not the crew), they were free to be repacked and returned to the boat yard. Wandering around staring at the shoal of skiffies was simply fantastic. The colours, designs and tangible excitement was delightful.
Like all Scottish events, the weather had alternative plans and didn’t care about SCRA,SASI or SWSA’s schedule for the day. Loch Ryan is a great location but not when there is a strong wind from the North and that’s exactly what we got for the day. The organisers made the right and painful decision that there would be no mass row in for the day but did get most boats on the beach which was a marvellous sight to see. The day culminated in a march from the beach along the prom, led by the local pipe band and was a great demonstration of how popular our sport has become. Packed up for the night, MJ and MV awaited the next day to see what the competition and weather would bring. Crews headed for accommodation or the long road back to Troon excited about what lay ahead.
Monday the 7th brought stronger winds and further bad news for our eager rowers. No rowing would take place and pre-race nerves would only get worse. Hope was however in sight as the weather was forecast to get better on Tuesday. Calculators, spreadsheets and much scratching of heads must have taken place by the organisers to try and squeeze so many races into the remaining days. They did a great job in rescheduling and communicating but Tuesday was going to be a rather busy day for clubs! Troon however had a new secret weapon. Eilidh, Lorna’s daughter and our favourite junior crew support champion, delivered the official TCRC lucky rowing bracelets. We all love them and wore them to every race throughout the week.
Monday evening was a sedate affair although we have heard “Deliverance” type tales of Adrian and Mike D wandering through the wild coastline and woods of Portpatrick together with cries of “Piggie Piggie” coming from the natives. I’m sure that will be explained further(especially to the younger members) at the next night out.
Tuesday the 8th arrived and the wind was no longer an issue. Back to our standard Scottish summer – no sun cream required!
First race of the day was the 40+ Women who would be racing in the first heat in lane 5 at 08.20am.
For this race Mike R was Cox with Harriet in Stroke and Lorna in seat 3. Adrienne took seat 2 and Kathleen was in Bow. The ladies were certainly up against tough competition and the sea was lumpy and the wind was blowing. Mike said “the guys had a bouncy row up to the turn where they executed a perfect turn with great acceleration away from the buoy”. The ladies came a respectable fifth in their heat. Unfortunately they weren’t fast enough to make the final but did finish in the top third of the table of over sixty competitors. Ardglass won the gold medal in this race.
The second race of the day was 40+ Men who would be racing in heat 2 in lane 2 at 10.40am.
Christine C was Cox for this race with Kevin in Stroke. Adrian took seat 3, Neil seat 2 and Mike D sat in Bow. The guys worked well together and put their heart and soul into every stroke. Smashing across the line in second place, just behind Eastern, secured them a place in the World Championship Finals. Nerves would have to be dealt with for the 3 hour wait until the final race. The guys were lined up on the start line and were off! The pace from the pack was incredible with Eastern leading the pack and finishing over a minute faster than their heat pace. Troon also raced at a quicker rate and finished an incredible 13th of 44 boats that participated. That’s TCRC 13th in the world!
Despite this fabulous achievement, the race will always be remembered for another reason! Voted by Christine C as funniest moment and Adrian as hero moment and Kevin as the most memorable moment, Mike D on spotting a thole pin floating away, stood up, dived out the boat head first and retrieved the runaway pin. This would have been seamless if he hadn’t been wearing an automatic inflating life jacket. Kevin still laughs at how he “then decided his water logged shoes would be adding extra weight and pulled them off and threw them out of the boat”.
Despite this small distraction, considering TCRC gave away a few years to the competition in this category, they did great!
The last race of the day for Troon was the 50+ Mixed. Troon were in heat 3 and placed in lane 2.
Mike R was Cox with Christine R in Stroke. Adrian sat in seat 3, Mike K in seat 2 and Kathleen took Bow.
The Troon crew charged towards the buoy and rowed well but against tough competition finished sixth in their heat. Unfortunately they did not make the final. The crew did however finish a respectable 24th out of 71 boats entered in this category.
The first day of racing was over and crews retreated to their respective sanctuaries to rest and reflect on a hard fought day where they could return with their heads held high.
Wednesday the 9th was going to be a busy day but our traditional Scottish weather had decided to be extra sunny and extra hot just to confuse our international visitors. Today TCRC was participating in four categories.
The first race of the day and fourth of the competition was the 60+ Men. They were competing in heat 4 and in lane 12 at 11.20am.
Christine C was Cox with Kevin in Stroke. Mike D was in 3, Neil in 2 and Paul in Bow.
Watching from Skiffie Hill (Okay maybe it wasn’t quite as big as the Wimbledon version but it was Stranraer after all) the Troon crowd was silent. Something had happened to Troon at the start of the race but we didn’t know what! We later found out that with the choppy seas, the starting buoy had got tangled on the rudder. Christine wrestled with it and managed to release it but the guys were way behind the pack! Undaunted, the guys fought on, dug deep and starting gaining on the pack. It was nail biting stuff on the hill and for Paul, in the boat, his highlight of the week, being part of a crew digging in and gaining ground despite the setback. The guys finished seventh in their heat and were applauded by some of the competition as they crossed the line. Unfortunately the issue meant the crew didn’t make the final of this category but still finished 25th of 54 entries.
Next up was the 60+ Women in heat 1 and in lane 15. Kevin took the hot seat for this race with Christine C in Stroke, Louise was in 3, Adrienne in 2 and Christine R in Bow.
Adrienne loved the new “rapping cox” technique employed by Kevin and it clearly worked because the ladies romped across the finish line in fourth place. Rumour has it they could even hear the screams from Skiffie Hill! Everyone waited with bated breath and had fingers crossed and lucky bracelets grasped to see the lineup for the finals. Soon afterwards the good news came through and our fabulous Troon ladies had made it to the world championship finals!
Jumping forward to the final race later in the evening, the ladies took to MJ again to fight for the pride of Troon. The atmosphere on the hill was electric as they took to the start line. Thirteen minutes and twenty six seconds later they crossed the finishing line in eighth place. The 60+ ladies were now 8th in the world and Troon heroes! Everyone in this crew selected this as their highlight on the water and Adrienne talked about “looking around at the other finalists and admiring all these women staying fit, active and doing something they love”. What a team!
The third category of the day and sixth for Troon was the Under 40 Mixed. Troon were in heat 1 and in lane 7. Looking around it was clear that many clubs have been successful in building and developing youth teams and this was an area we know we need to do more in.
Mike R was Cox and Julie was in Stroke. Roddy (Euan’s younger brother) was in 3, Euan in 2 and Lizzie in Bow.
The guys left everything in the boat and did their very best. Despite this they finished eighth in their heat and didn’t make the final. Dundrum went on to win the final of this category.
Next up was the 40+ Mixed category. Troon were in heat 2 in lane 3.
Mike R was Cox with Harriet in Stroke. Lorna took 3, Steve took 2 and Jacqui was in Bow. Again, this was another race that we had a wee bit of an age challenge but the guys still rowed their hearts out, had fun (eh no) and experienced a race in the Skiffie World Championships! Unfortunately they did not make the final and Golspie went on to win the final.
Thursday the 10th July and two categories for TCRC today. First up was the 50+ Men. TCRC would be in heat 3 and racing in lane 9. Christine C was in Cox and Kevin was in Stroke. Adrian was in seat 3, Mike K in 2 and Mike D in Bow.
Heat 3 was certainly the battle of the Titans. The pace was intense. The competition was incredible. Troon held their own and were in the pack throughout the race. To put this into perspective the winners of the heat Woudrichem, recorded the fastest time of all races throughout the championships. Dundrum who were second in the heat recorded the 5th fastest time in the whole competition so this was a FAST race. Troon finished a respectable fifth in the heat and qualified for the final. What an incredible achievement!
It would be a long nervous wait until the 4pm final but the guys were up for this challenge and took it in their stride. The final was another tense affair with fifteen boats lined up on the start line. They were off and Troon fought hard throughout the race. Less than twelve minutes later and the winners were across the finish line. WSV Woudrichem were victorious with Eastern quickly behind them and Dundrum taking third place. Troon finished in a respectable 11th place in the world!
The second race of Thursday and ninth of the competition was the 50+ Women. Troon were drawn in heat 3 and lane 5.
Mike R was in the Cox hot seat again. Christine R was in Stroke, Christine C in 3, Adrienne in 2 and Kathleen in Bow.
The competition was again fierce and the Troon ladies fought hard. Broughty Ferry raced across the finishing line and won the heat. Seventy two boats raced in this category and unfortunately Toon weren’t fast enough to make the final.
Thursday evening saw a well deserved team night out at The Waterfront Hotel in Portpatrick. Obviously there wasn’t any discussion about rowing and no alcohol was consumed. Honest!
Friday the 11th was the penultimate day of the competition and Troon had two categories to race in today. First on the agenda was the 60+Mixed and then the Open Mixed. The weather was very warm and the competition today would be even hotter.
The 60+ Mixed crew were drawn in heat 2 and in lane 3. Christine C was Cox with Kevin in Stroke, Christine R in 3, Adrienne in 2 and Mike D in Bow.
The guys lined up on the starting line and were off like a rocket. It’s rumoured you could hear the screams from Skiffie Hill in South Beach Troon but these are unsubstantiated. What is true is these guys raced across the finish line in first place! This was a highlight for Kevin, Christine R and Mike D all selected this as their highlight of the week. Yet another anxious wait for the final later in the day. Both Kevin and Adrienne retreated into their happy place with trusted earphones safely inserted and relaxation achieved prior to getting into the zone.
Jumping forward to the final and the boats were on the starting line. This was certainly a heat of champions. There were off and the pack raced towards the turn. The Troon crew fought all the way and the TCRC fan club urged them on. The pace was impressive and our crew crossed the line in 6th place. That’s TCRC 60+ Mixed crew now 6th place in The World Championships! What an achievement!
The second category for Friday was the Open Mixed race. Troon were drawn in heat 5 in lane 2. Mike R was in the Cox seat with Julie in Stroke. Mike K took seat 3, Neil in 2 and Lizzie in Bow.
All the “Open” categories were always going to be tough and this race was certainly no exception. The pace was incredible, the guys rowed for their lives and managed a respectable seventh place with Port Seton winning their heat. Another great effort by Troon but not quick enough for the final. Golspie, Eastern and Dundrum go on to take first, second and third place in the final. The end of another incredible day at The Skiffie World Championships.
Saturday the 16th July was a glorious day with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. Wait, only a few days ago the dry robes were on and races were cancelled. Welcome to Scotland folks.
Two categories for TCRC today and they were The Open Women and Open Men. Tough categories against tough competition and it was roasting on that beach.
First race for Troon was the Open Men in heat 4 and lane 2. Kevin in Cox, Adrian was in Stroke, Mike K in 3, Euan in 2 and Paul sat in Bow.
Skiffie Hill was packed for this race. A sea of purple stood anxiously waiting for the start. And they were off. The noise was incredible. The race was fast. Troon were well in the pack and holding a great position throughout the race. Twelve minutes and fifty seconds later, TCRC crossed the finish line in fourth place. What a result for the guys! We waited on the shore for them to return. The cheering continued. As we stood watching, you could tell they have used every bit of energy in their bodies for that race. They left everything on the water. What more could we ask from our crew. A nervous wait for the overall results and disappointment followed where the guys unfortunately didn’t make the final. Woudrichem went on to win the final posting the 10th fastest time of the whole competition! That’s how fast this category was. Great result for TCRC.
Our last category for the competition was the Open Women.
Christine C led the ladies in Cox with Lorna in Stroke. Lizze sat in 3, Julie in 2 and Kathleen sat in Bow. The guys were in heat 2 and in lane 10.
It was back to the hill, lucky bracelets on, fingers crossed and praying to the rowing gods for our brilliant “girls in the boat”. Even in the boat the atmosphere was electric. Apparently that was because of the “Electric Lytes” they had taken with them. (that’s a story that will remain in the boat). They were off and, like the last race, the pace was fast, the noise deafening and the tension high. We all stared at the big screen trying to work out what was happening and looking for the flash of purple from the boat. It was tense until the guys crossed the line fighting with Golspie and St. Andrews all the way and took a marvellous 5th place in their heat. Like the last crew, the ladies pulled up to the shore with not an ounce left in the tank. We yelled, we cheered and we hugged. We were proud of them. Yet another tense wait for the announcement of the finals but unfortunately this was to be the last race of the championship for TCRC.
When asked about “highlight of the week”, there were dozens of responses related to the support of family, friends and TCRC club members who came all that way to cheer for the club. There are too many to mention and we would undoubtedly miss some. A close second to that was definitely food and beverage orientated. From Beth’s food, Rodney’s gin and tonic, Paul’s sea food platter, Louise’s official TCRC adopted flapjacks to the wide support the club received, we thank you all. We loved the fact that people who couldn’t make it watched anxiously online waiting for news, looking for surreptitious boat photos (yes you Phil) and generally wanted to support from afar. The week was a great reminder of what we all want from TCRC and the hard work that we all put into it.
We learned a lot too. Everyone prepared for the competition well in advance, including the winter CrossFit training club sessions. Most people reflected on this and felt they may have benefited from continuing this longer into the season. They felt that more on water training is probably needed but recognised the difficulties in scheduling this. Much discussion and huge amounts of work was done to get the right equipment and kit
Neil has been championing the use of data and done extensive work on every race performance, considered our areas of strength and where we could improve. There is a wealth of data available and he is happy to share it with you.
We asked people to tell us one word that described the experience. Here are the words we can publish – Euphoric, Electric, Teamworkmakesthedreamwork, Unforgettable, Amazing, Brilliant, Fantastic, Exhausting, Awesome. We think that gives you an idea of how they feel.
Dundrum Coastal Rowing club were crowned winners of the 2025 World Championship for the St Ayles class of coastal rowing boat. Troon Coastal Rowing Club came a very respectable 30th in the world and reached four finals.
Overall everyone loved SkiffieWorlds 2025. Everyone wearing purple can hold their heads high at the performance of the club.
Just over twenty miles from Troon, Carrick Coastal Rowing Club’s regatta is a short hop from our home turf. The regatta is held in the idylic setting of Maidens.
The village of Maidens lies at the south end of Ayrshire’s Maidenhead Bay, six miles west of Maybole. The source of its name is often quoted as coming from “The Maidens of Turnberry”, a series of rocks in Maidenhead Bay which have long provided shelter to this end of the bay. There is an alternative view that it’s from a pair of iron age forts built a mile south-west of today’s village. It’s also the place where Robert the Bruce landed to start his reconquest of Scotland. Jumping forward it also grew in popularity due to golf and for many years had its own railway and station. I wonder if any of our members ever jumped on the train to Maidens?
At least the weather was reasonable for a late September regatta but those winds were growing by the minute! The day would be interesting.
Eleven members of Troon headed south to compete.
Nine clubs competed in the Carrick Regatta:
The regatta consisted of two main events, the Exciseman’s chase and the mini chase sprint.
The Exciseman’s Chase is an 8km timed pursuit race from Maidens Harbour to Gas House Bay, Culzean Castle and return to Maidens Harbour. To make matters more interesting, it required a complete crew change in each direction. Returning crews had to set off after the cox’s briefing to give plenty of time to walk to Gas House Bay to be ready to meet their outward crew and changeover.
The mini chase was down the length of the harbour with a starboard turn at the “teabag” buoy, round another buoy and back around the “teabag” before returning back to the harbour slipway.
The day was off to a quick start with the Coxs’ briefing and some quick planning to ensure the crew changeover at Culzean went as smoothly as possible. Tensions were high, the pressure was on. I know this because en-route to a wedding at Turnberry, I convinced Anne that we should go wish the guys good luck. The looks from other clubs were odd, surely this could be rowing gear of the future? Maybe Anne was right to stay in the car rather than head down the harbour in her long dress and high heels, but I thought the guys were worth it.
Each skiff was scheduled with three minute intervals between each departure. Troon were drawn to be the last boat to leave the harbour with their token in hand ready to hand over at Gas House Bay.
The first crew watched anxiously as boat after boat left the harbour. In the boat we had Adrian in the cox seat and Kevin in stroke. Christine C sat in 3, Adrienne in 2 and Neil in bow. Sitting ready waiting for the signal to go. Time to go, token in hand, gripped tightly just in case, they were off!
Kevin described the start of the race. “We set off nice and steady and got into a good rhythm, left turn out of the harbour and straight into 500mtrs of side-on swell tricky trying to keep a rhythm going. The next 2k was full on big waves, making progress for three or four strokes and then crashing to an almost stop at the bottom of a swell” All the guys talked about the “rollercoaster” experience. The North Berwick washing machine regatta was certainly good practice for the guys. Christine expressed that she “enjoyed the challenge of rowing into the high seas but Adrian’s frequent shouts of ‘here’s a big one’ certainly kept us all concentrated despite having a few fresh air strokes!”. Based on the feedback from all the crew “big one coming” was an often heard term from Adrian. Little did they know, or perhaps it was evident on his face, but Adrian “didn’t mind admitting that it was heart in the mouth stuff for me as the cox (as I could see what was about to hit us). I was glad to get Culzean in one piece! “
Waiting on the shore at Culzean was Josie, the chief beach marshal for Carrick Coastal Rowing club. In true sportsmanship behaviour, she kept Lorna, Mike D and Julie warmed up by making them throw sticks whilst awaiting the arrival of the guys.
Back on the sea, the final 1k for the “boys and girls in the boat” eased slightly and the guys overtook one skiff then another and made ground with 500 mtrs to the shore. At the last buoy turn the waves got a bit more side on and wobbly but with a final overtake at the beach, and a real slick crew turnaround, the guys handed over their precious token. Kevin “felt like he, Christine, Adrienne & Neil had been through the wars and had given absolutely everything for each other on every single stroke and knew we could not have done more but it was out of our hands now”.
At Culzean, Christine jumped into the cox seat and Adrian went into stroke. Julie sat in 3 with Lorna in 2 and Mike D in bow. Adrian said “the turnaround was almost F1 like and we were away in two shakes of a lambs tail”. Conditions were tough but on the return journey the guys had the wind at their back and Christine said “ the return saw us surf at a great rate and overtake another couple of skiffs”. Another valiant effort for the full 4k return journey and the guys had the end in sight. Crossing the finishing line, all they could do was wait to hear the results.
The guys had done it with a lead of four minutes. Looking across the timings above its clear that every team rowed their hearts out in such challenging conditions. A great win from our Troon rowers.
Next up was the mini chase sprint race. Christine was Cox for this event and got her crew ready. Despite the sunny day, like North Berwick, the wind was making conditions difficult and the course was hastily reorganised to suit the conditions.
For this race, Christine selected Lorna for stroke and Michael B in 3. Derek sat in 2 and Jacqui took bow. The precious token was taken and the crew climbed down the harbour wall to the pontoon. They were off! Jacqui was delighted with “The great start they got and it being a TCRC speciality”. The guys knew the pressure was on to retain the trophy and after the great result from earlier in the day. “The wind was strong and sea had swell and white horses from the North Westerly blowing” felt Derek and that it “was a well coxed race”. The guys could hear the other Troon members on the harbour wall and talked about it being a great motivator. The guys powered around the course and as they reached the slip, Jacqui quickly passed the token to Mike D who flew up the slip to hand over the token.
After an anxious wait, the guys found out they had won by a mere 45 seconds but were happy to take it and take the trophy home to Troon.
Another great regatta for TCRC and a great end to the season.
2024 Regatta Season
Its incredible to think that the 2024 regatta season is over and summer is gone, if you actually believe it arrived in the first place. What a season it has been and easy to forget how well we have done.
The first regatta of the season was back in early May at Port Seaton. We brought home medals from that but were stopped in our tracks by storm Kathleen. Shortly after this we were up the coast to Largs for the FOCCRs regatta. We brought home a number of medals from this and won the regatta trophy, again. Still in May, we headed down to Dunure, secured more medals and another regatta trophy. In June we went to Prestwick for an ”interesting regatta”. At the end of June we travelled to Arran, collected lots of medals and brought back the regatta trophy, for a third year in a row. At the end of June we launched our new darling, Marjorie Jeffrey and she had her first regatta at Royal West in early July. More medals and another trophy headed back to Troon. At the end of July, a team headed to sunny Stranraer for their regatta. Rumour has it that their kit is still drying out two months later. MJ was on form and the crew collected medals and another trophy! Finally we managed to run our rescheduled regatta and what a great day that was. Yep, more medals and all the trophies on offer stayed in Troon. In July we crossed the sea to Northern Ireland to take part in Skiffie Fest. “Wow” doesn’t do it justice. A great regatta and our awesome 60+ ladies (and Mike R) brought home medals from that regatta too. At the end of August we travelled to one of our favourite places, North Berwick, where more medals were well earned and brought back to Troon. This final regatta at Carrick was a perfect ending to a great season.
We can all agree that competing and winning a regatta is a “whole club” effort. The boat build, boat maintenance, fitness training, regatta training, club administration and cheering from the sidelines all contribute to every trophy. We all contribute in our own way and for our own reasons. For some its fitness, sawdust, community, just rowing or competing. They are all valid. We all got here through different journeys and are supported in different ways. For Jaqui it was through Letty, her mum, who taught her to row. For some it was walking along the prom watching the people in the bright marquees having lots of fun. Let’s work together to keep our club strong and better than ever.
North Berwick regatta has a special place in the hearts of many TCRC members. Its an iconic racing venue with a well run regatta and stiff competition. The scenery is not too shabby too. It’s one of those regattas where the best view is from the skiff but if you listen to the cox yelling “eyes in the boat, eyes in the boat, heads up, backs straight” its so easy to miss that incredible big rock!
Craigleith is a lava dome just off the harbour of North Berwick. Its part of a chain of four islands near North Berwick, along with Bass Rock, Fidra and the Lamb. Of these, it is the closest to the town’s harbour. Like these other nearby islands, Craigleith is a bird colony although with “eyes in the boat” I’ve never seen a puffin yet.
Fifteen members of Troon were due to compete but as ever, things change and plans need to adapt.
An impressive 21 clubs were scheduled to compete in the regatta:
The regatta consisted of 10 races with each race starting off the harbour and heading west around Craigleith (The Rock) and coming back to turn eastwards towards the finish line at the harbour wall. Races were all run across two heats and timed with no finals. Even with half the boats on the start line, it was an impressive sight.
Troon competed in eight of the ten races at the regatta. We did not compete in Race 3 – Under 18s or Race 6 – Mixed novices.
The first race of the day was the 45+ Men and Troon were drawn in heat 2. Christine C took the cox seat with Kevin in stroke. Adrian sat in 3 , Mike K in 2 and Neil in Bow. The guys looked focused as MJ slowly slipped away from the beach and headed for the start line. North Berwick is one of those regattas where you smugly reach for your binoculars because you realised the year before that once the boats are away from the beach, it’s impossible to see anything!
This was an endurance race wrapped in skill and covered in layers of determination. Attention! Go! The first heat was off and slogging its way to the rock. Less than 10 minutes later and the second heat, including TCRC, was off. Everyone watched the skiffs head towards Craigleith and watched the minutes tick by. As they headed round the island, “the boys in the boat” were somewhat surprised to be faced with two local lads, fishing rods in hand, sitting in their wee boat enjoying the peace and quiet directly on the racing line. Disaster avoided, the guys continued around the rock into even choppier waters and yet another sea state. The guys gave their all and left everything in the boat as the horn sounded and their race was over.
An anxious ten minutes later, the final results were posted on the North Berwick site. TCRC had secured an incredible third place in the overall race finishing on 19m 10s. The home team, North Berwick, finished first on 18m 36s and Alnmouth on 19m 02s.
The next race up was the 45+ Womens with Adrian in the Cox seat and Christine R in stroke. Christine C sat in 3, Adrienne in 2 and Kathleen in bow. Drawn again in the second heat, the ladies headed out into choppier waters. Hearing from the first crew of the “interesting” conditions, despite the sunny day, meant the ladies were going to have a bumpy row. Another anxious wait, watching from a distance, and hoping for glory. It was obvious from the guys when they reached the shore that it was a challenging row in changing and difficult conditions. “Now I know what its like inside a washing machine”, one of the crew joked as they climbed out the boat.
The Troon ladies, like our first crew, had rowed for all they were worth and took another third pace for TCRC finishing in 21m 13s. Boatie Blest took first place in 20m 27s and Broughty Ferry secured second place in 21m 09s.
The next race TCRC competed in was the Mixed Decades. Christine C jumped back into the Cox’s seat and Adrian in stroke. Julie sat in 3, Lorna in 2 and Paul sat in bow. The chat was electric round the boat as the guys got themselves ready. Advice from returning crews was shared. “Avoid the fisherman”, “Get ready for the waves on your beam”, “Head further East when you come round the rock” but the guys were already in race mode and they were off.
It was clear from shore that the conditions were getting rougher and rougher. The tide was coming in, the winds were blowing a cold Easterly, the sun was shining and the white horses were dancing off shore. An anxious 30 minutes later and the guys returned to shore after a hard race in difficult conditions. TCRC finished fifth with a time of 21m 38s. Elie and Earlsferry finished first with a time of 20m 57s. North Berwick were second on 21m 7s and Eastern third on 21m 10s.
Race 5 of the regatta and Troon’s fourth race of the day was the Mixed Open. At this point everyone could tell that the conditions were getting worse and TCRC were going to be really tested today. Kevin sat in Cox and Christine R took stroke. Our first “improvise, adapt and overcome” moment arrived with Jacqui (who was scheduled to be in seat 3) but was currently in seat 1 on the A720 at that very moment. The team were resolved to forfeit the race until Julie, in a superwoman moment, declared she would take the place and do back to back races in the washing machine. Euan took seat 2 and Michael B sat in bow.
Another anxious wait as the guys headed away from shore. We could see that the boats were being thrown around in the ever turbulent bay. The guys were clearly doing well and we could see that they were in second place as they disappeared around Craigleith. Waiting with bated breath, we peered through binoculars watching for them to round the rock. Little did we know that the guys, whilst racing behind the rock, came to an unplanned emergency stop, as they captured a submerged buoy! Hanging over the stern with Christine hanging onto Kevin, the guys removed the offending rope and restarted the charge around the rock. Unbelievably, after overtaking other boats, the guys finished 10th with six boats slower in the overall race.
Despite the weather, the sun had brought everyone to the water with wild swimmers, kayaks, fishing boats, tourist day trips and the local sailing club regatta all vying for space. That made things even more interesting for our beloved skiffs. The next race was the novice race and due to our ongoing successes, we passed on that particular race.
The next race for TCRC was the Mixed 240+ with Christine C in the Cox seat and Kevin in stroke. Adrienne sat in 3, Christine in 2 and Neil sat in the bow. Watching from the harbour wall was exhilarating, terrifying and with a sense of relief that we weren’t in that boat! The skiffs were being thrown around, waves crashed over the boats and at the last minute, whilst the guys were in the boat, they were told not to go around the rock and instead go around a buoy on this side of Craigleith. Another wild row with the washing machine in maximum spin mode, the guys raced around the new course. The guys raced for all they were worth and the finish was wild.
The TCRC raced across the finishing line taking fifth place with a time of 16m 9s. St Ayles secured first place with a time of 15m 32s and Eastern took second place on 15m 40s.
After this race, North Berwick took the sensible approach and paused the regatta hoping conditions would improve. After some time the next two races were cancelled and the regatta again paused. The first heat of the ninth race was the men’s open and was heading for the start line but it became quickly obvious that crews felt it was unsafe and headed back to shore. The regatta was cancelled at this point but everyone clearly had a great time and felt the right decision was made. Once everything was packed away, in a medal winning time, the crew headed to the lobstershack for a well-deserved treat.
TCRC were delighted to take home two third place awards from The North Berwick regatta against such strong competition. We were also delighted to be supported by Steven, Ronnie and Lorna’s daughter, Eilidh. Eilidh was a star and hopefully a future member, helping launch boats and keeping us all topped up with sweets.
Forthcoming Regattas
The next regatta is on Saturday 14th September at Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club at Rhu. The guys would love you to join them and support TCRC at the regatta. Its also a great opportunity to have a wee look at some skiffs and spot any design changes that have been implemented by other clubs.
Strangford Lough is a large sea lough in County Down, in the east of Northern Ireland. It’s the home of Down Coastal Rowing Association (DCRA), the representative body of affiliated Coastal Rowing clubs within County Down. DCRA are the organisers of the annual Skiffie Fest regatta. Troon has a fantastic historic link to the association and was instrumental in its foundation. Back in 2014, just a few years after its foundation, TCRC journeyed across the water to show off Marr Voyager to an enthusiastic Northern Irish audience. Shortly afterwards, six skiffs were ordered for local clubs. You can see an interview with Jim and Harry online at:
The name Strangford comes from the Old Norse Strangfjörthr, meaning “strong fjord” and was a regular haunt of Vikings from the 7th to 13th century. What a fitting location for our own bunch of roaming warriors crossing the sea to battle on the waters of Northern Ireland.
Fourteen nervous Vikings caught the ferry from Stranraer across the Irish Sea. A first for many of the crew to visit Northern Ireland and a first to Skiffie Fest for some too! We had heard tales of regatta battles over campfires (Harbour bar) and wondered if one day we would fight on those shores. The time had come!
Fourteen warrior rowers joined the TCRC crew and set off to battle.
Fifteen Clubs participated across nineteen boats to join this national battle. Clubs from Northern Ireland, Scotland and England all competed on Strangford Lough.
The regatta consisted of a course running 1km North and around a marker buoy returning the 1km back across the start line. Most races would be run in two heats with the top 14 boats competing in a final race. A number of races went straight to single final races due to the number of competing clubs. The regatta ran over three days with 24 separate race categories covering under 17s up to 280+ crews. TCRC planned to compete in 10 of the 24 races across the three days.
After a ferry journey full of colourful characters, the crew initiated its battle plan with half heading to set up camp and the other half heading straight to the lough. MJ even had to breathe in when traversing some of the roads. The team got MJ in the water and the set up of a forward operating base ready for the forthcoming battle. The atmosphere was electric. The tension was high.
The first and only race of the first day was the 60+ women’s race with Mike R in the Cox seat. Christine R took stroke with Adrienne in 3. Jacqui sat in 2 with Christine C taking the bow seat.
Fourteen boats lined up on the start line ready for this epic battle. The wind was high and the tide was racing. Off to a great start, the ladies rowed their hearts out. It was clear from this first battle that competition over the regatta was going to be extremely high. Despite this, our crew fought for every metre on the water and finished an incredible third place behind Strangford and Golspie. A great start to the regatta rewarded with a champagne reception on returning to the TCRC camp.
First night at the TCRC camp and much talk of rowing and tactics! Nerves were dampened with the traditional beer and wine remedy. We understand that to this day, Christine R is still wearing that medal won on day one.
Early to bed and day two quickly followed. An early rise for all and preparations started for a fun packed day.
The first race for TCRC on day two was the 40+ Female heat. Mike R was Cox for this race. Louise took the stroke seat and Lorna in 3. Jacqui sat in 2 and Kathleen was in bow.
The guys were drawn in heat 2 and rowed like there was no tomorrow finishing with a decent time to take them into the final. Time seemed to be moving quickly in Northern Ireland and the next race was upon us. The race was the Open Mixed and TCRC was in heat 2. Mike R took the Cox seat with Kevin in stroke. Lorna took 3, Lizzie in 2 and Neil in bow.
Giving their all on the water, the team finished in a time that took them through to the final later in the day. Feedback from the team when they returned indicated that competition on the water was high and the return leg against the wind and tide was tough going.
The third race of the day was the 50+ Mixed. This was a single race straight to the final with 14 boats competing. Christine C was now in the Cox seat. Adrienne took stroke and Adrian sat in 3. Mike K was in 2 and Kathleen took bow.
Yet another epic battle followed. TCRC were off to a good start but it was evident that these clubs were a cut above many others. The guys rowed like champs and finished a respectable eighth in the middle of the pack. Golspie Rowing Club stormed across the finishing line to take first place and bring some more medals back to Scotland.
The next race was another single race with no heats. The 40+ Male was coxed by Christine C. Kevin took stroke and Adrian took 3. Neil sat in 2 with Steve in bow.
With the youngest crew member in this race at 57, TCRC was at a bit of a disadvantage but up for the fight. Conditions on the water were improving and the sun was out. Another decent start for TCRC. Christine C guided the guys towards the turning buoy and kept their heads up and eyes forward. 12 boats charging up the lough searching for victory and stories to tell. Golspie again grabbing first place with an awesome row. Troon with a fast time and finishing in ninth place. Competition was fierce and everything was left on the water.
Things moved at pace. The organisation was like clockwork. Every Troon crew returning from battle was applauded and hugged by their fellow TCRC rowers. People jostled for views across the lough watching for their clubs racing and returning.
Time for the 40+ Female final and the fifth race of the day for TCRC. 14 boats lined up on the start line ready to race. Another race where Troon were “giving away” quite a few years to the competition but again that didn’t stop these ladies. Yet another full on and fast race ensued with Ardglass Coastal Rowing Club romping home in a very fast time. TCRC finished thirteenth.
The last race for TCRC for the day was the final of the Open Mixed. Fourteen boats lined up chasing those elusive medals. TCRC fought from the outset but as we saw all day, the competition was on a whole new level. Eastern Amateur Coastal Rowing glided across the lough with an almost effortless stroke whilst Golspie fought hard against them. At the finish line Eastern took victory followed by Golspie 5 seconds behind them. Troon crossed the line in thirteen place.
An exhausted TCRC crew headed back to camp to reflect on a hard fought day. Six tough races against world class competition was awesome but also exhausting. Much rowing debate followed over a fabulous feast, interspersed with singing, wine, beer and the odd baby Guiness. The day ahead clearly needed a rethink with a potential of 10 races. This was sealed when, after too many hours perched in the Cox seat, Mike R had to bow out of the competition and watch from the sidelines.
Day 3 was here and it felt like we only arrived a minute ago. A few swapped seats and a dropped race reduced the overall burden and made the day look a bit more achievable. This was a valuable lesson for Worlds!
The first race of the day was the 40+ Mixed and TCRC was in heat 2.
Christine C took the Cox seat with Louise in stroke. Lorna sat in 3 and Neil in 2. Steve took the bow seat. Nine boats sat on the start line eager to row. From the outset, Eastern glided to the front of the pack. The Troon crew rowed for all they were worth but once again giving away too many years to the competition. A fast race followed with Eastern taking another first place ahead of the other boats. Unfortunately TCRC failed to reach the final despite their valiant efforts. Dundrum Coastal Rowing Club went on to win the final with Golspie taking second place and Eastern taking third.
The next race of the day was the 50+ Male. Christine C took the Cox seat and Kevin was in stroke. Adrian sat in 3 and Mike K in 2. For this race Neil was in the bow seat. Troon was in heat 2 and 8 boats fought for a place in the final.
The Troon crew flew off the start line and comfortably finished in the middle of the pack with energy saved in the tank for the final later in the day. The next race of the day was the 50+ Female and Troon were in heat 2.
Adrian stepped in to take the Cox seat and Christine R sat in stroke. Christine C took 3, Adrienne took 2 and Kathleen sat in bow. This was another incredible heat with boats neck and neck towards the turning buoy. The Troon ladies flew across the finishing line with a time to take them into the final later in the day.
The fourth race was the Open Female and Adrian again stepped into take the role of Cox.
Louise sat in stroke with Lorna in 3. Lizzie sat in 2 and Jacqui took bow. This was another fast race with Sketrick leading from the start and finishing first in the heat way ahead of all other boats. Unfortunately our Troon ladies did not make the final with Ardglass, Sketrick and Eastern taking the top three places in the final.
The fifth race of the day was the final of the 50+ Male category. 13 boats lined up on the start line waiting for the signal. Christine C, in the cox’s seat, grabbed onto the starter buoy for dear life and waited on the call for attention and go. And they were off to yet another flying start. This was a quick race with great conditions on the water and Troon were in the pack. Eastern and Sketrick again showed their pace and powered ahead with Troon chasing the leading boats. The guys finished with an incredible fifth place with Eastern grabbing yet another gold medal.
The last race for Troon was the final of the 50+ female with Adrian again in the cox seat. 13 boats jostled back and forth on the start line eager to go. The ladies sat with anticipation knowing how tough this competition was. This was yet another fast race and as they disappeared into the distance every team watched hoping for victory. For Eastern and Dundrum it was battle from start to finish with an almost photo finish and Eastern grabbing a well deserved gold and winning by less than a second ahead of Dundrum and Strangford taking third. The Troon ladies got a respectable 9th place with a fast time but unfortunately the competition were at the top of their game.
Skiffie Fest was over. We blinked and it was gone. Like a well oiled machine, the crew set about getting MJ out the water and breaking camp.
Back at camp, yet another feast was devoured. We were a team, even when cooking and cleaning. Spirits were high and we were genuinely proud of our achievements against world class opposition. Everyone was reflective and discussions quickly moved on to how we could progress as a team and as a club. We considered the world championships in 2025 and reflected on what was needed. As you walked through the house, every conversation was on techniques, boats, oars, fitness, training and in many cases awe at some of the other clubs we watched and admired. The conversations continue to this day and we will find a way of expanding to the whole club and getting invaluable input to every single question.
Skiffie Fest was a well organised regatta and people were so welcoming to TCRC. I think it will form a special memory in every single person who attended from TCRC and strengthened bonds for future races. Thanks to our travelling supporters club (Steven Bargh) for joining us and one day you will leave that lycra behind and join us on the water.
Forthcoming Regattas
The next race is one of our favourites and is North Berwick on the 31st August. We would love for you to join us even if you aren’t on the water but want to come and look at boats and talk to other rowers and boat builders.
