Rowers honour new Glen Coe skiff

Coastal rowers from Seil, Appin and Loch Awe had an ‘oarsome’ time at the launch of Glen Coe’s new skiff.

The three rowing clubs raised their oars on Loch Leven as Glen Coe Boat Club’s Corrag, named after the witch of Glen Coe, took to the water.

The community skiff also got a special blessing from Lochaber parish priest Father Roddy Johnston.

Try-a-row sessions were a big hit with visitors who turned up on Saturday April 9 to share the celebration.

The Corrag project took four years and two months to complete.

Retired submariner and former Glen Coe Boat Club commodore David Southcott spent hundreds of hours building the skiff from scratch, with help from club members. He was at the launch with wife Christina, who carried out the official naming ceremony with a whisky toast.

David said: ‘It’s been wonderful to have so many people with us for the launch.

‘Thank you to everyone who came to the launch and helped with Corrag’s launch. I hope word will get round about her.

'We have four communities of Onich, Ballachulish, Tigh Phuirt and Kinlochleven everyone is welcome to come and try it out. I hope it's going to be a big success with them all. I’m sure it will be.’

Corrag is a 16-foot St Ayles skiff, designed to be rowed by a team of four people with a cox to steer.

Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos Crews of the three visiting skiffs raise their oars in salute to the Corrag.

Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos The Corrag is officially named and launched by Christina Southcott, wife of the builder, who poured whisky over the bow.

Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos Glencoe landmark ‘The Maiden’s Pap’ overlooks the maiden voyage.