Author: Barbara Agnew

A QRC crew took the Lass out for a ‘lovely choppy row’ today. May Macleod took these beautiful photos.

Mike B writes: Given the Red alert for very high winds along the East coast tonight and tomorrow morning, I suggest that we should cancel social rowing tomorrow morning.

Our normal operating limit is a wind of 21mph and the forecasts are for gusts much higher than that, so I think we have to take the prudent approach and not risk it.

Peter noted on Tuesday that it was Ferry Maid’s 9th birthday, and that the occasion would be marked by a celebratory row by the men’s 60+ crew. Good timing, because much-needed maintenance work starts on the boat on Wednesday. Sheena, who saw off the Maid on her launch back in 2012, was at the harbour to greet the crew, and sent the club this message: “The weather nine years ago was lovely too and a day to remember. Happy rowing everybody.”

Let’s have Peter take up the tale: Some of you who have done training with me may remember me saying “If you are going to make a mistake, do it confidently.” Now, this is mainly for the potential archivists/historians of the future.

Sheena called me last night – and remember, it is Sheena who graciously set Ferry Maid off into the Harbour. She said, “Peter I have 24th November in my diary as the launch of Ferry Maid.” Well, of course she is correct! I can only apologise for my confident mistake. I could not have asked Mr Meredith and team for another day and as one of the ladies said yesterday morning, “Forecast is not good for tomorrow.”

So, the date for next year’s diary: 10th Anniversary of Launch of Ferry Maid, 24th November, 2022!!

Mike B writes: Next weekend the tides are favourable for us; social rowing on Saturday the 27th can begin at 09:00, as usual, and on Sunday the 28th, it can begin at 13:00, again as usual.

One thing to note, though, is that only one boat (Ferry Lass) will be available, as Ferry Maid will be receiving some much needed TLC from Wednesday the 24th of November until Tuesday the 14th of December.

If you would like to assist in applying that TLC, please contact Mark Meredith, our chief gang-master, to let him know!

Mike B writes: Because of the tides, social rowing will commence at 10:00am on Saturday the 20th of November. On Sunday the 21st of November social rowing can begin at the normal time of 1pm.

If you fancy rowing during the week, click here to check the tide times for Rosyth.