Founding of Stranraer Coastal Rowing Club

I have written before about our members’ love of rowing in new locations and also how friendly and supportive the coastal rowing community is. On the 21st Feb this year we were able to combine these two by supporting Stranraer Coastal Rowing Club at their open day club launch. Five of our members took our lovely skiff Marr Voyager down to Stranraer and were naturally given coffee and cakes before launching her. Once launched we took her into the harbour and moored alongside a pontoon. Several local people wished to have a go at rowing so we took them, two at a time, just for a short row within the harbour area. It was lovely to see the reaction of people that a) they could row and b)how stable the skiff was. Once everybody had rowed we chatted with the organisers who told us their hopes and plans and how they hoped to host the 2019 World Championships! Certainly Loch Ryan, being a wonderfully sheltered stretch of water, would provide a stunning location. We wish Stranraer Coastal Rowing Club well.

Troon Water Sports Centre – Public Consultation 1pm to 4pm, Sunday 9th April, in the Walker Hall

Media Release        21 March 2017

Public Consultation for Troon Water Sports Centre

The plans for Troon Water Sports Centre have taken another step forward with the announcement of a public consultation event in the town. The team behind the project have confirmed that they are holding an information session in the town’s Walker Hall on Sunday 9th of April from 1pm – 4pm, putting their plans on display and giving short presentations at 2pm & 3.30pm.

The proposal for the £2m not-for-profit community facility first went public at a recent Troon Community Council meeting and now the project team want to give everyone in Troon and the surrounding area the chance to hear more about the ambitious project. Members of the group behind the project, which includes Ayr & District Sea Cadets and Troon Coastal Rowing Club, will be on hand to answer questions and talk members of the public through the plans.

With a design that includes workshop & maintenance facilities as well as space for training, it’s hoped the centre can become a hub for a wide range of water sports from dinghy sailing and windsurfing to sea kayaking and coastal rowing. Visitors to the consultation event will have the chance to see some of the boats from local clubs who hope to use the centre as a base in future.

Chair of the Water Sports Centre project group, David Michelson said:
“The Water Sports Centre will be a huge asset for Troon. Our main goal is to get more people out on the water, enjoying Troon’s fantastic coastline, which is why we’ve designed the building with space for training and coaching. This includes building on past work by Troon Coastal Rowing Club and South Ayrshire’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to enable school pupils to learn boat-building, and woodworking skills as part of their qualification”

“This consultation event is a chance for people to hear more about the project and, most importantly, give us feedback. This is a community project and we want to hear people’s ideas and hopefully find some more people and organisations to get more involved in the project.”

For more information, visit www.troonwsc.org or www.facebook.com/troonwsc or, to get in touch with the project team, e-mail contact@troonwsc.org

TROON WATER SPORTS CENTRE

Proposal for Troon Water Sport Centre (TWSC)

This is a general outline of plans that Troon Coastal Rowing Club (TCRC), Ayr Sea Cadets & local community partners propose to establish a dedicated community run Water Sports Centre for use by adult and youth groups and water sports enthusiast.

This facility and the function of the TWSC steering group is to capitalise on existing community collaboration, to help realise and maximise the economic potential of a  water sports facility with  its picturesque views over Arran with direct access to sheltered waters shielded from South West prevailing winds. As part of a strategic plan, TWSC seeks to establish a small boat/ canoeing/ sea kayaking, kiting school to capitalise on the undeveloped assets of the Troon coastline.

This facility will allow Troon and Ayrshire to benefit from the increasing national participation and demand in leisure boating and water sports.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Troon Coastal Rowing Club currently operates its rowing programmes from the slipway at Troon Yacht Haven and has done so since it was founded in 2011. The club now has more than 60+ members and growing and is now seeking a multi-purpose and permanent operational base. Such a facility would provide the following functions; to allow members to meet indoors and have an operational base, assemble for rowing; deliver and develop water sport training and to store boats (each 22’ long) and related marine safety equipment along with maintaining  and building new boats.

Ayr Sea Cadets are based at Fusilier House, Seaforth Road Ayr. Its core business is to celebrate maritime heritage and contribute to its future development by supporting young people 10 – 18 as Sea Cadets. The cadets offer training and opportunities afloat with canoeing, sailing, rowing, power boating etc. Ayr Sea Cadets are supporting this project to enable them to have a shore base close to the sea to develop and deliver nautical onshore and off shore skills training.

Water Sport Enthusiast, Troon and Barassie beach for many years has been a haven for water sports enthusiast who comes to the coast todingy sail, canoe, kite and wind surf in the favourable winds and waters of Troon.  Many are local people with also many traveling from other parts of Scotland and beyond. This new facility will act as a hub to meet and use as a changing facility, youth and adult training base and social centre.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES  – It is envisages that the facility will operate as a multi-purpose water sports Centre for small boats and other waters sports.  The facility will be open and available to use in partnership with other local organisations such as Triathlon Clubs, Cycle Clubs, walking groups, Scouts, Cubs, Sea Cadets units, Sea Scouts and dingy sailing clubs. It can also encourage new clubs to be formed such as Canoeing, windsurfing, kite surfing clubs  This facility under the management of a Water Sport Centre management group Charity (SCIO) will enable water sport in Troon and Ayrshire to have a permanent base creating a much sought-after community water sport hub. This facility will cater for the expanding water sport users in South Ayrshire and beyond and will add to the marine tourist and waters sports development facilities in South Ayrshire.

Schools & Community groups (Curriculum for Excellence) – Many primary and secondary schools, Youth Clubs and community groups are based in and operate in Troon and wider Ayrshire. The new facility will provide more opportunities to participate in small boat sailing, paddle sports and physical activity and improve health and well-being and assist in capacity building, in particular the training and development of coaches and volunteers. Activities planned for the proposed facility are embedded in Education Scotland’s rationale for “Curriculum for Excellence” and will help promote its four capacities. – Successful Learners, Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens, Effective Contributors.

Local economic development – Improving the tourism infrastructure in Ayrshire and Troon in general where the visitor profile needs to be raised and the resulting increase in visitor numbers staying and basing themselves here is crucial, especially in view of the potentially Arran Ferry coming to Troon along with cruise liners visits.

Skills training – Local school pupils will have the opportunity to work in small groups with skilled and knowledgeable people from their local community to allow them to develop varied skills and build confidence, team work and learn in creative and informative ways. The project also has the opportunity to directly benefit from the successful Troon Coastal Rowing Club boat building project. The club in partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme in South Ayrshire in the last five years has built by hand two boats with school pupils completing there DofE Skills section.

Boat building heritage – with the demise of the Ailsa Ship Yard in Troon large and medium size boat building has ceased.  However small coastal rowing boat building has increased in Ayshire.  The  skiff building programme in South Ayrshire in the last five years has resulted in one boat in Prestwick, one in Maidens and Girvan being built with others on the way. The Troon TWSC could be an ideal opportunity for local people to learn about and develop traditional boat building skills, establish a sustainable skiff building and maintenance programme and collaborate with Irvine Maritime Museum.

Sport Participation – In partnership with Troon Sports Hub and other Ayrshire wide Sports Hubs the Water Sports facility could be a base for training and meetings for varies onshore sports. The location of the proposed facility is directly beside the SUSTRANS Route 7 cycle path and the Ayrshire Coastal Path walk. This central location can be maximised as a stopping / starting point for use of the path network as it continues up and down the coastline. Bike storage and hire facilities can be offered along with maintenance, training and coastal route information.

Catering facilities – A kitchen and eating area is included in the building design which could offer snacks and meals to passing visitors, locals and facility users, this will also create a consistent revenue stream for helping fund on going running costs.  With stunning views over the sea to Arran this could be a “Must go to place for meals and relaxing coffee meetings”.

Troon Water Sport Centre Management team

The project management team will be a partnership of committee members from Troon Coastal Rowing Club, Ayr Sea Cadets and representatives from Troon Kiting and windsurfing group. The management team are seeking to expand the project team and engage with other potential community user groups and individuals to get involved and become active in the planning of this project and use of the facility.

 Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO)

The management team are in the process of creating a constituted Charity (SCIO) which will take forward this project. A SCIO is an Optional Legal form for registered Scottish Charities.

Scottish Marine & Recreation Tourism survey 2015

The management team vision of a multi- purpose Water sports facility including a community based facility for all recreation clubs and groups in Ayshire fits in well with the recent publication of the Scottish Government “Marine & Recreation Tourism Survey 2015. This survey details various marine and coastal recreational activities which the government wish to support and enhance. Many of the report findings highlight recreational activities which many people participate in Troon or travel to Troon in particular Barassie Beach area to participate in, Such as Kiting, Rowing, Surfing, Wind Surfing, Dingy sailing, Cycling, Coastal walking,  bird watching. The building of a permanent facility on the coast will

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/seamanagement/national/RecandTourism

AREA / LOCATION 

Area of land close to the sea / beach adjacent to Troon Recycling Centre, Port Ranald Drive, Troon

PROPOSED ON-SITE CONSTRUCTION

  1. A building on 2 levels with a footprint of approximately 2500m2.Exact size and design to be determined subject to costs, planning, energy efficiency, sustainability and other considerations. (See Architects drawings)
  2. An all-weather slipway down to the beach for the launching and recovery of boats.
  3. Car parking space for approximately 15 vehicles.
  4. Security fencing & outdoor lighting as required.
  5. Installation of utilities (electricity, water, sewerage).
  6. Vehicle access from Port Ranald Drive

FEASIBILITY STUDY

The club was awarded funding from South Ayrshire Community Development fund to undertake a feasibility study on the site and the proposed construction of the facility. This was done by Armour Construction Consultants (Kilmarnock) with a consultation team of architects and engineers.

PRE APPLICATION Ref: 15/00319/PREAPP

A pre -planning application has been submitted and the proposal has been favourably viewed subject to a few conditions which were happy to accept.

LAND LEASE

A 50 year lease agreement has been offered subject to funding being in place.

FUNDING OPTIONS

  • Ayrshire Growth Fund
  • Big Lottery
  • Marine Scotland
  • Crown Commission
  • Sport Scotland
  • RYA Scotland
  • Hillhouse Quarry
  • Robertson Trust

The Water Sports Centre project management team are seeking approval of this project from Troon Community Council with the intention developing the project further and seeking funding from the project in 2017.

Irvine Harbours Festival of Lights – row up the Garnock River

fest-of-light-long-view-2016 festival-of-light-dec-2016

Skiffs from Troon, Maidens, Girvan, Prestwick, Firth of Clyde and Anstruther took part in a social row up the River Garnock and then the skiffs were decorated with coloured lights and then rowed up the River Irvine towards the town in the dark to the delight of the onlooking spectators.  This must be a first for the St Ayles skiff community.  Special thanks to Bruce from Anstruther for the night shots.

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