Author: Barbara Agnew

Club captain Dónal writes: It has been a busy time these last couple of weeks. The RowAround section went very well, we managed to row to Portobello over two days and yesterday we were at North Berwick for their Regatta “Lite”.

It was a wonderful day, with a shortened 850m course. No trek around Craigleith this time.  A big congratulations to our Youth Crew of Oisin, Aaron Emma and Scott, coxed by Rachel. They came in first with a time of 6 minutes 10seconds two seconds ahead of North Berwick. 

Well done to all the other crews who did very well considering we haven’t raced for two years and for some this was their first Regatta. 

Looking ahead, we have a few events coming up.

On September 18th we have our Youth Event, which is a return fixture for the North Berwick event held in June. The clubs that have been invited are North Berwick, Eastern and Ely.

The following day, September 19th, is the Tweed Row and Picnic. For the new members, this is a row from Berwick upon Tweed up the river to Paxton House, where a picnic is enjoyed before rowing back down the Tweed to recover the boats. 

The third event is the big one for local pride, this is the North v South Race on Saturday October 2nd.  The race will start at 11am.

I will put a sheet up in the shed today for both Tweed Row and North v South. Alternatively you can email me at dferrie74@gmail.com.

Keith writes: The Committee have delegated me the duty of promoting and selling off the “club kit” which we have had in stock for the past couple of years. The stock has been boxed or bagged for all that time. They are fine, if a bit creased. I am instructed to offer them at 20% off the previous selling price.

Below is a complete list of the available stock and the new selling price.
If you want an item get in touch with me and only me at
KeithRMcEThomson@yahoo.co.uk. I can give you the club’s bank account details when you email me – please pay the money in before collecting your items.

Zoodies:   sizes M (2)  L (6)   XL (4) £13.20
Sweatshirts: sizes   L (1)  XL (4) £11.20
Unisex polo shirts: sizes  L (2)   XL (5) £12.24
Unisex T-shirts: sizes S(1)  XL (4)  XXL (2) £8.64
Ladies’ polo shirts: sizes S (1)  M (3)  L (3)  XL (4)  XXL (3)   £12.24
Hoodie: Only one left, size L   £12.48
Buffs are not reduced, but 11 are available: one size, £15

Just a quick reminder that Queensferry Rowing Club receives the RowAround Scotland baton from North Queensferry on Sunday. The plan is that both the Lass and the Maid will be launching at 12pm and meeting up with North Queensferry rowers. We will row around the bridges, going around Inchgarvie and back up under the Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing, before receiving the baton and heading back to Port Edgar for a barbecue.

The barbecue starts at 1300 – please bring your own food and drink. It’ll be great to get everyone together again and to welcome all the new members.

On Monday, another crew will row to Granton Harbour to pass the baton on to the Newhaven rowing club, arriving at 4.30pm. It would be great if anyone who’s free could be there to cheer the rowers as they row in.

And on Tuesday, a QRC crew will join a row in company, taking the baton from Granton Harbour to Portobello, arriving there at 10am.

The microplastics trawl being conducted as part of the RowAround, is currently in Pittenweem – follow the route on the RAS2021 website. Click here for more information on the trawl project. For the science-minded, Saz explains everything in a video.

Mike B writes: The week ahead looks fine for our evening rowing, so far as tides are concerned!

Social rowing will be available on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with a bookable slot each evening at 6pm and turn up and row sessions also beginning at 6pm and lasting until everyone has had a row, or until it’s too dark to row.

On Saturday, we will have two boats available for turn up and row sessions from 10:00am (the tides force a later start than usual)  – but the good news is that the Shed is now open for use and there is the possibility of Saturday morning bacon rolls!

Sunday 22nd sees the start of our section of RowAround Scotland. Both boats will launch at noon.  Crew number one is Dónal, Anne P and Anne F as Pilots for the Forth section, George as the oldest member of the Club, plus a Youth member. For the second crew, Dónal will draw names from a hat.

If you wish to take part in the bookable rowing slots on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, please email me directly on mikebreewood@gmail.com. Likewise, if you wish to book a boat outwith normal social rowing times, please email me directly, so I can enter the booking in the relevant calendar.

Dónal writes: I have heard from North Berwick regarding their Regatta on August 28th. They have given their categories, which you can see below. So far we have eight members going to the Regatta, plus the crew that will row from Port Seton on either Friday evening or Saturday morning. 

60+ mixed
50+ mixed
Novice mixed
Decades mixed
Open mixed
U19 mixed

I will put a sheet up in the shed for anyone who wishes to take part to add their name to it. The races at North Berwick will not be around Craigleith as has been usual but rather a straight race from Craigleith.