Club captain Marianne writes: Below is the draft regatta and events programme for 2023. A couple of events are confirmed, and we’ll firm up the rest of the programme over the next few weeks, so keep an eye on emails and the noticeboard. Click here to view the full SCRA calendar.
20 May: RowPorty.
03 June: Broughty Ferry – 2km races, confirmed. Categories: 280 Women, 40+ Women, Novice Women, 60+ Men, Novice Mixed, 240 Women, Novice Men, 50+ Women, U19, Open Women, Open Men. Withdrawn.
17 June: Dunbar – 1.5km races. Categories: 1.5km races for Open Men, Women and Mixed, 40+ Men & Women, 280+ and Mixed Novice. There is also a longer race, mixed 5.5km.
15 July: Ullapool – 2km races, out and back. Confirmed.
30 July: OUR REGATTA! Kinghorn, NQ, RowPorty, Newhaven. Fun mix and match sprints.
13 August: Eskmuthe, Musselburgh.
26 August: North Berwick. The theatre of pain that is racing around Craigleith.
02 September Castle to Crane – 21 km race up the Clyde from Dumbarton Rock to the Finneston Crane.
24 September: Alan Meldrum Community Challenge. A fun challenge for groups outside the club who have never rowed before.
27 September: Five Miles from Home. Fun race in club home waters – form a crew, get a time, post it.
TBC: Tweed Row.
TBC: North South race – The big one! This year hosted by NQ, and run south to north.
October: SCRA Freshwater sprints, Loch Tummel The traditional end of the regatta season.
Regattas
Regattas take place in the summer, ranging from shorter sprints to more usual 2km rows to the theatre of pain that is racing around Craigleith at North Berwick. (It’s more fun than I’ve just made it sound though!) Racing generally takes place in age categories, and many races are mixed in age and sex.
Regattas are physically and mentally demanding, and not for everyone, but they are great fun! It’s always a good day out for the club, and a chance to meet other clubs and row in different places.
We also have a few events, particularly towards the end of the season. The most important of these is the North South race against North Queensferry. We currently hold the magnificent trophy.
How do I sign up?
A copy of the programme will go on the noticeboard. In time-honoured tradition, sign-up will be using our advanced laser display board, i.e. sign-up sheets using a biro on the noticeboard. Sign-up sheets will start going up shortly. You’ll be asked to put your age next to your name, so we can form crews when the time comes.
Training
Sharon is arranging training sessions on Wednesday evenings, and Thursday/Saturday mornings. Please try and do some of these sessions if you’re planning to race so you are confident about racing starts, buoy turns and the demands of racing.
Towers
The ‘away games’ hinge on securing the services of a tower. If you’re able to tow and can help out, please get in touch. The club will pay mileage, and members will be on hand to help load/unload the boat.
Race coxes
If you’ve been through our club training programme (you’ll know if you have) and would like to do some race coxing this season, please let me know. We are hoping to arrange some race cox training.
Any questions, let me know. captain@queensferry.org