Report on 2013 Worlds for the SCRA AGM
On behalf of the Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club and our partners I would like to tell you what we are planning for next July at the St Ayles Skiff World Championships.
Since we took on the job in April we have been busy with planning and publicity. Many people and organisations in and around Ullapool are involved and we have made a big application for funds to EventScotland. We have many local sponsors and a lot of local support for this event, which we think will attract between 35 and 40 skiffs and around 1000 rowers. Of these at least 4 teams will be from the US, the Netherlands and Australia, and they are very excited to be with us.
In case you think Ullapool will be overwhelmed, there were 2500 revellers at the Loopallu rock festival in the village and we managed fine. Thanks to all the clubs who have already booked their accommodation, and if you have not done so please do it soon. There will be plenty of camping space but other accommodation is booking up fast.
For the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we plan boat orienteering, cruises in company and two 10 mile races, one for the men and one for the women. There will be an extensive programme of events on shore for those not rowing and we will have a large marquee on the pier all week in case it rains which it never does.
On Thursday Friday and Saturday we will run races in several age categories and men’s, women’s and mixed. We are considering two possible lists of age category, and I would be happy to hear which you prefer. We will confirm the final age categories in December.
One is U17, U19, Open, 35+, 50+ and 60+.The other is U17, U19, Open First and Open Second crews, 40+, 50+ and 60+.The main races will be 2km and will have upto 15 boats at a time. There will be a floating start line near the beach with separate marks for each boat which the cox will have to hold on to until the start signal. The race is then out a kilometre, round separate turning marks and back to the start line. For the major race categories there will be 3 heats and a final, thus 4 slots in the timetable. For races with 15 or fewer boats, only a final will be necessary. We plan to hold 12 races per day at 30 minute intervals and will run races in the evenings if necessary.
We also plan to run time trial sprints of 270m along Shore Street in the evenings, one boat at a time, anyone can try as often as they want, and we will keep a leaderboard of the times with a prize at the end.
I would encourage any of you who have pipers or drummers in your club to get them to join the St Ayles Skiff Championship Pipe Band which will play at suitable occasions, perhaps as a warmup to Torridon or Skipinnish, the two bands who are playing on Friday and Saturday nights in the big marquee.
We hope you will visit the Worlds Facebook (St Ayles Skiff World Championships) page and leave comments, as well as the Worlds website, and we are on twitter (@skiffworlds). We are very enthusiastic about this event and look forward to hosting you all and having a great time. (Written by Topher Dawson)
