All posts by Anne

STOP PRESS – we have an announcement!  At the recent Moidart Produce Show Anne Widdop, co-chair of the new Moidart Coastal Rowing Club (or Moidart Skiffies as we call ourselves) gave this short speech… 

‘This is a proud moment for the club, and hopefully for Moidart and surrounding areas too, as I want to reveal the name of our brand new community skiff. After months of stretching planks, glueing and inhaling far too much epoxy, our skiff is nearing completion. It will soon be ready to fly across the water. 

Now, if you’re wondering why on earth the fuss about one wooden boat, it’s because – boats are in the blood of Moidart. For centuries, this place relied on them. From the sturdy birlinns of the Clanranalds to the launches that carried mail, passengers, and gossip up Loch Shiel and around the coast. Wooden boats connected people, brought supplies, and no doubt occasionally smuggled the odd thing or two, or so I’ve heard…

But somewhere along the way, the roads and cars came, and the boat building stopped. Until now. Moidart Skiffies are the first folk in living memory to build a wooden boat here in Moidart – and we’ve done it together, plank by plank, with much scratching of heads as we have figured how to do it, and more sanding than any of us ever thought humanly possible.

And what is the Moidart Coastal Rowing Club about? Well, it’s not just about rowing – though that does come in handy! It’s about bringing people together. It’s about giving young and old the chance to be part of something, to learn new skills, to get out on the water, and, most importantly, to laugh together when we row in perfect circles instead of in a straight line.

Now, building a boat is a bit like keeping a Highland cow. They’re beautiful, but they do eat money. So, if you are keen to see the Skiff club flourish, please think about sponsoring the boat, joining the club, or making a donation.

Every penny is put towards building the club, and we still have a lot to do. And if you join the club, you won’t just get a chance to row – you’ll get fitness, fun, friendship, and possibly forearms like Popeye.

So today, with pride and with a sense of history, I reveal the name of the boat as Speireag. I hope you will see her flying across the local waters with grace, with strength, and – if the cox steers us straight – maybe even in the right direction. Flying being a particularly apt description given Speireag means Sparrowhawk in Gaelic.

Community led clubs like the Moidart Skiffies matter. They bring communities together, and they make sure that in fifty years’ time, when people talk about the last wooden boat built in Moidart, they’ll say: ‘Ah yes – that was Speireag – built by hand by local volunteers.’ Finally, I’d like to say a huge thanks to Nino for letting us commandeer a shed to build the boat in. It’s been invaluable to help us get going.

Thank you, and let’s get rowing!

Kind Regards

Anne Widdop

Moidart Skiffies Sponsored Row helps get Scotland’s Newest Club up and running

In the picturesque landscape of Glenuig Village Hall, a new chapter in coastal rowing is unfolding. The Moidart Coastal Rowing Club, Scotland’s newest addition to coastal rowing, has embarked on a remarkable journey. Not just a journey across the Sound of Arisaig, but one that symbolises community spirit, ambition, and the collective endeavour to make a dream a reality.

The brainchild of Lou Johnson, she brought together a team to take part in a sponsored row. One that aimed to mirror the ambitious journey from Glenuig to the North of the Isle of Eigg and back, covering a distance of 50 kilometres (or 27 nautical miles). This event was a test of teamwork and of the club’s aspirations. The Moidart Coastal Rowing Club, through this event and the Curry Night 7 weeks before, sought not only to mark its inception but also to gather the crucial funds needed to build its first boat and set the stage for the club’s activities. Lou said “I thought a sponsored row would be a great way to start to get the wider community interested in rowing, not only to raise funds for Moidart Skiffies, but also as a way to encourage improved fitness and stamina through rowing. It certainly provoked a lot of interest and I was so impressed that our rowing volunteers stuck with us to achieve our goals. I want to sign them all up immediately to get out rowing on our skiff, once built!”

The event took place in the heart of the community, the village hall in Glenuig, on the 24th of April. It was a day when the rowers, were not battling against the waves but against the resistance of a rowing machine. The camaraderie and energy was fantastic with every stroke on the rowing machine showing the fledgling team’s commitment towards the club’s start-up.

So far, the sponsored row has been a great success, raising £1,900 out of the £2,500 target. This stands as a testament to the community’s support and the collective belief in the value of coastal rowing, not just as a sport, but as a vehicle for bringing people together, fostering a sense of belonging, and contributing to the social and physical wellbeing of the community.

However, the journey doesn’t end here. The Club is still welcoming sponsorships, as there is still a stretch of water to cross to reach the fundraising target. Supporting the Moidart Coastal Rowing Club at this juncture means contributing to more than just the construction of a boat. It means supporting the growth of a community club that values inclusivity, health, and the joy of rowing. It’s an opportunity to be part of a legacy that will open up opportunities for the people in the area and continue to support our long marine heritage.

We invite you to join us on this voyage. Let’s pull together, for every contribution brings us closer to our goal. With your support, the Moidart Coastal Rowing Club will not only reach its fundraising target but will also embark on its mission to enrich the lives of its members and the wider community through the joy of rowing.

To those who have already contributed, your generosity lights the path forward. As part of the Rewards offered on our sponsored row Crowdfunder page, we’d like to thank the following people and those who donated anonymously. You are AWESOME!!!

• Mel Williams
• Mark Shickell
• Jonathan Knox
• Louise Johnson
• Peter Langhorne
• Anne Widdop
• Karen and Michael Polkey
• Ingvild Begg
• Kit Devine
• Quentin Paterson
• Phil Smith
• Christopher Erdal
• Helen Lucas
• Mark Reynolds
• Robert Clegg

Together, we can ensure that the Moidart Coastal Rowing Club gets going and we can move towards a future filled with promise, camaraderie, and the timeless thrill of sea rowing.