New skiff prepared for launch

A YEAR-long labour of love by a small team of coastal rowers will bring back a bit of history to the north east coast of Angus.

Montrose coastal rowers are about to launch their hand-made St Ayles Skiff community rowing boat, which will compete at national events.

After gaining financial backing from local companies, they purchased a special kit which retired engineer Len Mackie has meticulously put together.

It is now all hands on deck as volunteers paint and varnish the inside and outside of the 22ft boat.

Team captain Fiona Guest explained skiffs – crewed by four rowers and a coxswain – once played a huge part in Scottish history, with one known to have been used in the Montrose and Ferryden area. She is hopeful the new boat will attract participants keen to experience the thrill of taking to the open water.

She said: “We have been working on this solidly for about a year now.

“Thanks to the generosity of local people we were able to purchase the kit and the paint.

“We have been so lucky with Len who carried out the construction. He has never built a boat before but has been ingenious in building it from scratch.”

The skiff will be launched at 2pm on September 14 at Montrose Sailing Club, when members of the public can try it out. It will then be in action on September 21 when crew members compete in the Castle to Crane event, rowing 13 miles from Dumbarton Castle to the Finnieston Crane in Glasgow.