Belated race report: 5 Miles from Home

Douglas writes: On the 9th July 2021, five QRC members took part in the SCRA “5 Miles From Home” event, using Ferry Maid. 

This event was one of a series organised to give some competitive rowing in the absence of a Castle to Crane race this year.

Crews were invited to enter in a variety of craft, and were sorted into age categories. A crew was assembled from the Men’s 60+ squad, in the M50+ category. (No 60+ category being available unfortunately.)

Each crew had to row a five mile course in their home waters. The course had to be “out and back”, or approximately circular, starting and finishing in roughly the same place, to minimise any local tidal advantage. The row had to take place between the 9th and 11th July, and the result recorded using Strava or similar and submitted to the organisers by 1pm on the 11th.

The team had done extensive research, and with assistance from John H., had mapped a course which gave the required length. A short series of test/training rows was carried out, firstly to check that the course was actually the right length, and then to set some times. Training rows recorded times of 53:00 minutes, and 53:12 minutes.

For the first race day on the 9th July, conditions were not as favourable as expected, but a good time of 53:55 minutes was achieved despite the Inchgarvie sector being particularly lumpy and challenging. (Lots of air rowing) The forecast was looking worse for the next day, so the recorded time was accepted as the one which would be submitted.

The Maid crosses the finish line

Once the results were published, an analysis of the spreadsheet showed that the crew achieved the following:

25th out of 139 entries in all classes.

9th out of 36 St Ayles skiffs entered.

3rd out of 4 M50+ St Ayles Skiffs entered.

So, the headline is we came 3rd in our class, and were ahead of many open category St Ayles crews.

Congratulations to Alan Sutherland, Alistair Sturrock, Alan Duch, and Keith Thomson for keeping up an excellent pace in difficult conditions, while I just had to steer and make sure I didn’t accidentally stop the time recording before the five miles were completed. That wouldn’t have gone down well….

Social rowing slots, 3-8 August

Mike B writes: Well, the summer is racing by and the tides this week are excellent for our weekday rowing, so make the most of it whilst we have the light evenings!

Times for social rowing this week are:
Tuesday 3rd August:  Slot 1, 18:00 to 20:00, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 18 45 to 20:45, Ferry Lass
Thursday 5th August: Slot1, 18:00 20:00, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 18:45 to 20:45, Ferry Lass
Friday 6th August: Slot 1, 18:00 to 20 00, Ferry Maid, Slot 2, 18 45 to 20 45, Ferry Lass
Saturday 7th August: Slot 1, 10:00 to 12:00, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 10:45 to 12:45, Ferry Lass
Sunday 8th August: Slot 1, 13:45 to 15:45, Ferry Lass; Slot 2, 14:30 to 16:30, Ferry Maid

If you would like to participate in any of these rowing slots, please contact me directly on mikebreewood@gmail.com as soon as possible.

The bunting is out in Queensferry right now – so here’s the Lass in the Ferry Fair parade in 2019

Social rowing, 27 July-1 August

Mike B writes: Next week will be excellent for evening rowing (at least so far as the tides are concerned!)

We have a full program of social rowing slots as follows:

Tuesday 27th, Slot 1, 18:00 – 20:00, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 18:45-20:45, Ferry Lass
Thursday 29th, Slot 1, 18:00 – 20:00, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 18:45-20:45, Ferry Lass
Friday 30th, Slot 1, 18:00 – 20:00, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 18:45-20:45, Ferry Lass
Saturday 31st, 07:00-09:00, Early Birds, Ferry Maid; Slot 1, 09:30-11:30, Ferry Lass; Slot 2, 10:15-12:15, Ferry Maid
Sunday 1st August, Slot 1, 13:00-15:00, Ferry Lass; Slot 2, 13:45-15:45, Ferry Maid.

If you would like to join a crew for any of these slots, please let me know directly on mikebreewood@gmail.com.

A blast from the past: 29 July, 2019, racing at the Skiffie Worlds

Social rowing 20-24 July

Mike B writes: The tides are not very helpful to us this coming week – only two rowing slots available in the evening during the week.

The social rowing slots are as follows:
Tuesday 20th of July: Slot 1, 18:30 – 20:30, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 19:15 – 21:15, Ferry Lass
Saturday 24th of July: Slot 1, 11:00 – 13:00, Ferry Lass; Slot 2, 11:45 – 13:45, Ferry Maid

If you would like to take part in any of these rows, please email me directly on mikebreewood@gmail.com.

If you are driving down to Port Edgar, you can park in the non-charging car park by driving up to the barrier and telling them that you are with Queensferry Rowing Club.

Rowers enjoyed some glorious weather last week

Changes to social rowing, and other news

Marianne writes: The Committee and Mike B have reviewed and discussed the current rowing arrangements.  We’ve had slots specifically for ‘limited exposure’ and ‘shielding rowers’, but those crews rarely get out together, if at all, for a variety of reasons.  We’ve decided to change this arrangement, and from this week, all social rowing slots on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays will be open to everyone.  

We hope that this will allow more flexibility and a greater number of rowers to get out.  We should emphasise that if anyone who is in these groups wants to organise a row, we will try and help that to happen.  

Photo by Rory McIntyre

Outwith social rowing times, please remember that ANYONE can call a row (including youth rowers!).  Mike B is, as ever, there to help you with your booking.  We’re all very grateful to Mike B for all his hard work in helping us book boats and get out on the water.

We want you to be out as much as possible, particularly while the weather is good (always there’s nothing quite like a frosty winter row!) and the nights are light, so we hope this will help you do just that. We’ll continue to keep arrangements under review to make things as easy for everyone as is possible.

The coming week’s social rowing slots

Mike B writes: The tides in the coming week are mostly favourable to us, with the exception of next Sunday afternoon, when low tide forces a bit of a gap in the rowing.

The slots for the forthcoming week are as follows:

Tuesday 13th July: Slot 1, 18:00 – 20:00, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 18:45 – 20:45, Ferry Lass
Thursday 15th July: Slot 1, 18:00 – 20:00, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 18:45 – 20:45, Ferry Lass
Friday 16th July: Slot 1, 18:00-20:00, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 18:45-20:45
Saturday 17th July: Slot 1 (for early birds), 07:00 – 09:00, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 09:30 – 11:30, Ferry Lass; Slot 3, 10:15 – 12:15, Ferry Maid
Sunday 18th July: Slot 1, Youth Rowing 09:00 – 12:00, Ferry Maid; Slot 2, 12:15 – 14:15, Ferry Lass; Slot 3, 16:00 – 18:00, Ferry Maid.

Please remember to turn up at the Shed at the start of the slot time, not before, and please be ready to row, as we cannot use the Shed for changing currently.

As ever, please email me directly on mikebreewood@gmail.com to book your place on any of the rowing slots. I will normally confirm your booking and then, closer to the time of the rowing slot itself, I shall confirm with you whether there is a complete crew for the row or not.

Outwith social rowing times, the boats are available for self-selecting crews to book – again, just email me directly on mikebreewood@gmail.com .

Finally, if you want to view the current state of play on any slots or bookings, you can view the calendars for Ferry Maid and Ferry Lass on https://queensferryrowing.org/rowing-schedule/ . The calendars update in real time, so whenever I make a change in any entry it shows at once.

The weather looks good for the week ahead so please do make the most of the rowing slots available!

Other news

Marianne writes: In other news, congratulations to Alan Sutherlandour newest RP!  Having completed the course and buddy rows, Alan can now skipper the skiffs.  Well done Alan!

And well done to the Men’s 60+ for taking part in the Five Miles from Home virtual race, with a time of just over 53 minutes for the row. 

Men’s 60+ crew cross the finish line
The crew after their five-mile race. Photos by Barbara

Great to see new members continue to join!  It’s a shame we can’t show you the more social aspects of the club, but hopefully that day is coming.  No one makes a Saturday morning bacon roll quite like Peter!

New rowers Holly and Ruth in the old harbour with Donna and Lesley. Photo by cox Rory