Return to rowing: nearly there!

Club captain Anne P writes: I just wanted to give you a quick update regards progress with our return to rowing.

The crew testing the protocol – Marianne, Mark, Peter and Stevie L

As you are aware, our first successful launch with our new Covid protocols took place earlier this week. Following feedback from the crew some adjustments have been made. Our second crew of skippers will take to the water this evening and again feedback will be gathered as we refine our procedures. A new tab has been created on the website where the relevant documents and links can be found. We would recommend that you familiarise yourself with these as we move towards members returning to rowing.

At the committee meeting last week we agreed that we need to gather the views of members in preparation for putting crews together. As our membership ranges from those who are and have been working with the public throughout, to those who have been shielding, there may be some matching required to ensure that everyone who wants to row is comfortable with the options available.

A survey is being prepared for club members to be able to share any particular requests regards their comfort level and needs when rowing with a particular crew and skipper. A similar survey has already taken place for skippers. We are also exploring the best option for gathering a crew and booking a boat. It is important to us that everyone who wants to row, has the opportunity and that we manage this in as inclusive and equitable a way as possible.

Further updates will continue as we proceed and in the meantime feel free to raise any questions with any member of the return to rowing subgroup i.e. John Howell, Maria Van Dalen, Marianne Sandison, Anne Flannery and myself.

Nearly there!

In other news, Mark reports that Ferry Lass received a coat of varnish this morning and will be ready to row next Monday. He gave a big vote of thanks to Douglas for keel band bending and fixing with Alistair, as well as to the boat turners, plus Mike B and the RTR team for access permits. 

Return to rowing update

Club captain Anne P writes: Yesterday saw an important landmark in our return to rowing – the first RPs, Mark, Stevie L and Peter, tried out our new return to rowing protocol with Anne F and Marianne (as club Covid Officer).  We’d like to thank Peter, Mark and Stevie L for engaging so positively and enthusiastically.

Photo by Lorna Bark

The RTR Group have been working very hard behind the scenes to get to put this protocol together.   Live testing it, it proved robust, practical and what we need to do to get back on the water, while complying with SCRA and Scottish Government rules.  There was only one tweak (thanks, Peter!), so I am now able to share it with the Club.  Click here to view or download a PDF of the document. The Committee and RPs have already had sight.

While it may at first look daunting, this is what we will all need to do, without exception, to keep us rowing.  It is for our own safety as individuals, as a Club, as a community, and as part of the Scottish coastal rowing family.

The protocol might best be summed up as:

  1.  Sanitise the boat and equipment
  2. Row!
  3. Wash the boat and equipment.

It’s not a barrier to rowing, but something that will ENABLE us to do the thing we all love.

We hope to have more RPs out as soon as possible, so if you spot a boat out, as some of you with eagle eyes did, that’s what’s happening.  

We are a community club and we want to ensure that everyone who wants to has an opportunity to row, so the Committee are also looking at a booking system to make this happen.

While some smaller clubs are out, many clubs are moving at a similar pace to QRC.  It’s important we get this right, so please be patient for a little longer.

And once again, thanks to Peter, Stevie L and Mark for stepping up and supporting the process!

Photo by Lorna Bark

ON THIS DAY – Episode 9

Continuing the as-it-happened story of how our club was born, ten years ago. 

Mike McD writes: We got the key for the vacant unit next to Scotmid (now divided into the vet’s and Barnardo’s charity shop) on 31 August, with just time to organise an inspection and clear up, because on 3 September, the kit arrived (see picture).

The project team had held their 4th meeting in mid August when it was reported that further donations – £200 from Seakist Antiques, and £100 each from John Howell and ‘Ferrie Scarie’, the ghost walk – had brought our total to £720 – sufficient to pay the final installment to Alec Jordan.

So things were really starting to move. We agreed on the need for more publicity – an official hand-over of the premises to start with, and a whole list of possible fundraising activities. We were lucky – with Agilent leaving Queensferry, we obtained a large number of tables and chairs, as well as a metal workbench (Yes, the one in the shed!).

Not to forget the rowing, we had been invited to enter a mixed team for the Traditional Boat Festival at North Queensferry on 11 September.

Our Virtual RowAround

Club vice-captain Dónal writes: Click below for Legs 11 and 12 of the Virtual RowAround:

I’d like to thank Mike McDowall for his pieces on rowing in Queensferry and Port Edgar, a History; Peter Locke for his piece about Rowing in the Shadow of the Bridges and part of the history of our Club; Anne Flannery for her passage plan from Port Edgar to Granton; and all those that contributed answers to the questions posed, even if some were not used. The blog would not have been possible without your assistance and for that myself and Anne are eternally grateful.

Latest return to rowing update

Club captain Anne P writes: I’m pleased to let you know that the RTR subgroup have written a procedure for the safe resumption of boat maintenance, which has been endorsed by the Committee.  This is now with the Technical subgroup and hopefully work on Ferry Maid will start soon.

The subgroup is now working on procedures for the resumption of rowing,  
This is still a fast moving situation .  We are seeking clarification on a few points from the SCRA, and in touch with other clubs to share experience, which will help us to get back on the water.   All going in the right direction!

In the meantime, it would be worth everyone who intends to row to look at the Covid-19 module on the SCRA website.  Although not specifically aimed at rowing, it has lots of good information and will give you an idea of what’s ahead.

Let’s hope we get an Indian summer!

Barbara here. Don’t forget the club EGM tonight, online at 7:30am. Check your email for the link.