‘Oar’some rowers take on Scotland’s coast
Argyll rowers are preparing for their stint behind the oars as part of this year’s Row Around Scotland event.
Organised by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association (SCRA), the relay will see a stunning wooden baton passed between 70 community coastal rowing clubs.
The groups will travel in St Ayles skiffs – double ended, seaworthy designs based on boats used in the Fair Isles – with four rowers, with an oar each, and a cox. Each boat is being built by the communities and painted in a distinctive colour.
The ambitious relay will launch at Gretna on March 25 then row clockwise from the Solway to the Tweed, around Scotland over eight months.
The Argyll leg begins on May 3 at Ardrishaig, with the baton being handed over to the next section at Ardnamurchan on May 17. Clubs involved include Mid Argyll, Seil, Luing, Kilmelford, Mull, Morvern,
Port Appin, Iona, Tiree and Glencoe.
The best places to see the skiffs will be in the Crinan Canal on Sunday May 3, leaving Ardrishaig at 8.30am and arriving in Crinan by 5pm; at Port Appin on Sunday May 10 and various other points along the way – weather permitting.
En route a free try-a-row day will take place at Craignish Boat Club, Ardfern, on Monday May 4 from 3pm. Organisers invite everyone to join them but suggest wearing shoes they won’t mind getting wet.
Marking the tenth anniversary of SCRA, and part of the Year of Coasts and Waters, the relay’s final stretch will be crewed by members of SCRA’s first clubs from 2009, arriving at Loch Tummel in time for the association’s annual general meeting on October 24.
Those staying on dry land can follow the expedition’s progress as the baton is fitted with a tracker, transmitting directly to the dedicated website www.rowaround.scot