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Newhaven Midsummer Challenge

Rachel writes: Several members have asked me about the Newhaven event. Here is the full information from Anna Cox of the Newhaven Coastal Rowing Club.

Newhaven Midsummer Challenge, Saturday 15th June (NB corrected date!)

Essentially it is a race with yachts (provided), skiffs with cox and rowers, and runners. This takes place between the harbours of Newhaven and Granton in Waldie Bay. The crew is six — cox and rowers, plus the runner.

There are two races with a break and food in between. The rowing race is 2km and is for a mixed crew. This can be done with one crew or two.

The runner is ‘the baton’ and sets off in the appointed yacht. Yachts race from Newhaven Harbour out into Wardie Bay to Granton Harbour. The runners depart the yachts and run the one mile distance back to Newhaven and jump in their club skiff, which has the crew waiting for them. The skiffs race the 2km out into the bay and back to the finish point in Newhaven Harbour.

This event has an informal emphasis on fun, while still being competitive .
It is suitable for experienced and novice rowers. Spaces are limited and Newhaven are keen for Queensferry to take part. This is LOCAL and there aren’t many local events on the SCRA calendar .

At present we have three ladies’ names on the sign-up sheet. Can we give this one some consideration? We have not been able to attend the last two years as it clashed with other things.

Runners — we know who you are!!

To speed things up to register, I am happy to take names – email me at
rachelholburn@gmail.com and I will add you to the sign-up sheet.

More photos from 2016 on Flickr.

PS. Bacon rolls to start, soup and cake in between, burgers to finish! Newhaven do a ‘good spread’.

The tides for next week – 21st to 27th January

Rachel writes: I am advising of these next week’s tides a bit earlier, to assist anyone planning rows for next week. We have a lot of low tides, all in the morning, taking us towards the end of the month.

Monday 21st January
Low: 08.28 —1.0 m
High: 14.49 — 5.9 m
Low: 21.05 —0.6 m L

Tuesday 22nd
Low: 09.18 —0.9 m
High: 15.38 — 6.1 m
Low: 21.56 — 0.4 m

Wednesday 23rd
Low: 10.02 —0.8 m
High: 16.28 — 6.1 m
Low: 22.41 —0.4 m

Thursday 24th
Low: 10.43 — 0.9 m
High: 17.18 — 6.1 m
Low: 23.22 — 0.4 m

Friday 25th
Low: 11.18 — 1.1 m
High: 18.08 — 5.9 m
Low: 23.56 — 0.7 m

Saturday 26th Cox Course on all day.
High: 06.34 — 5.7 m
Low: 11.52 — 1.3 m
High: 18.58 — 5.7 m Pontoon will be asked for.

Sunday 27th
High: 07.25 — 5.4 m
Low: 12.34 — 1.6 m
High: 19.51 — 5.4 m

Have a good weekend and week ahead.

Tides for the week ahead

Rachel reports: What a breezy weekend we have had, after some glorious calm days midweek. This week’s weather is a bit mixed, as the temperature starts to drop.

But the tides are good for us, so lots of rowing availability.

Monday 14th January
High: 08.11 — 4.8 m
Low: 12.40 — 2.2 m
High: 20.23 — 4.8 m

Tuesday 15th
High: 09.05 — 4.7 m
Low: 13.45 — 2.3 m
High: 21.21 — 4.7 m

Wednesday 16th
High: 10.06 — 4.7 m
Low: 16.30 — 2.2 m

Thursday 17th
High: 11.10 — 4.9 m
Low: 17.24 — 1.9 m

Friday 18th
Low: 05.52 — 1.7 m
High: 12.11 — 5.1 m
Low: 18.15 — 1.6 m

Saturday 19th
Low: 06.41 — 1.4 m
High: 13.07 — 5.4 m
Low: 19.09 — 1.3 m

Sunday 20th
Low: 07.33 — 1.2 m
High: 13.59 — 5.7 m
Low: 20. 09 — 0.9 m

Colder weather on its way, you say? Here’s a photo from 21 January last year, to show just how lucky we’ve been with the weather lately!!

The training crew managed to get back in just before it snowed, but social rowing was cancelled.

Passage planning meeting

Anne Flannery writes: This is a follow-on to the email that was sent out for anyone interested in attending an evening session on passage planning.

We have booked the PEYC for Thursday 17 January for an evening of discussion around passage planning. This is based on the experience that we – Anne P, Liz Barbara and myself – have gained over our last couple of big rows and does not pretend to be a substitute for any courses run by RYC, Port Edgar or any other recognised certificated body.

We aim to start at about 7.30pm and will be finished by 9pm. Please let me know if you would like to attend (to organise tea/coffee etc ).

We would be happy for any experienced passage planners to attend to lend us their experience.

Replies please to anneflannery3000@gmail.com

A green resolution for 2019

Club vice-captain Rachel writes: I have proposed, and have the approval of the committee, to aim for us at QRC to work towards the SCRA Green Flag Award. This is an initiative that started about two years ago, when Anstruther started the “bring your own cup” initiative for regattas. At the SCRA AGM in October, a further four clubs were awarded a “green flag”. Many more clubs are now working on it.

To achieve this flag and recognition is fairly easy. It’s all about being aware, picking up, and recording.

We will write a short report prior to next year’s AGM about what we have done and why we think we at QRC should be considered for a Green Flag Award. It just takes us all as members/rowers to carry out what we already know – making for a better environment, on and off the water.

We would aim to keep our surroundings, on and off the water, free of plastic and other rubbish. We are lucky at Queensferry to have so many beautiful beach stopovers to visit when out rowing. We all want the coastal areas to become plastic-free and rubbish-free. We at Queensferry can do our bit leading up to 2020, Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters.

We have already started paper/plastic recycling in the shed. We need a taller bin for this, anyone got one going spare? Please help by removing this recycling to your own blue bins at home, when you are aware it is full.

Fresh bags are in the drawer. Some of us are good at taking away the glass empties, and the maintenance crew were good at taking away the empty paint tins etc! We already make sure any disposable cups are recyclable.

There are many ways we can go about this, so can we work together sharing ideas and make plans. I have been in touch with Ali Grant from the SCRA committee, who is leading this, and she looks forward to receiving our report, should we go ahead with this. I would like help to co-ordinate this so please email me directly at rachelholburn@gmail.com if you are willing to help, or to share ideas.

As an incentive, we can run an in-house competition for the most unusual item found, prize to be considered!!

There is a report on the Green Flag awards on the SCRA website. Please have a wee look at it.

Barbara adds: Above is a photo of a clean-up at Port Edgar back in 2009, and the rubbish haul for the day. The marina is a lot tidier these days, but there is still a lot of litter floating around. If you spot a bit of rubbish, pick it up, record it and dispose of it correctly. City of Edinburgh Council has an online guide to recycling – check it out to see what goes in which bin. West Lothian Council has a page of hints and tips that is also well worth a read.