Category Events

Eilish Maclellan and myself attended the practical session of our coxing course down in Dunstaffnage Marina. For anyone who’s rowed with other people in a boat, you’ll appreciate the importance of everyone rowing at the same time, that the boat makes some sort of progress in the right direction, and with someone ultimately being in charge… That’s the cox’s job – who knew!

Using two St Ayles wooden rowing skiffs loaned from Lorn and Appin skiff clubs, the practical session had a crew of four rowers in each boat, with a trainee cox in the stern and a trainer sitting opposite them in the bow shouting instructions, encouragement and warnings in equal measure. All the rowers there that day were to take turns in the ‘learner’ cox seat, to get trained up in the effective use of commands, good manoeuvring techniques, and other tips n’ tricks. To be honest, each of us there that day admitted to being a bit anxious about what miracles we’d be asked to make the boat do. Both Eilish and myself were attempting coxing for the first time… We were in different boats, and slightly out of earshot of each other, which was possibly a good thing. If you know either of us, you’ll know that we don’t necessarily have an issue telling people what to do, but it does help if we first have an inkling of what we’re meant to do!

Each of the crews were all ears, listening carefully to the trainers’ instructions, observing how each trainee cox managed their role of being ‘in control’. The coxs were told how to instruct their rowers to weave the boats in and out of the yachts moored in the bay, putting the coxs through figure-of-eight exercises and backing onto mooring buoys (all the while us rowers had quite the healthy workout, performing these stop-start drills until the trainers were happy). As everyone finished their session in the cox seat, they swapped places with a rower who was then put through the same coxing hurdles.

Eventually the inevitable happened and it was my turn. OK, this was it. Be calm, be loud & clear, be calm, be decisive, be calm… did I mention we were all a bit anxious?! In the end, no-one drowned and nothing was broken, it was fine and actually a lot of fun. Once I’d got the hang of the strange dual pull-strings on the boat’s rudder (very different from a wheel or a tiller), I realised just how manoeuvrable these 22ft boats actually are. And being cox, at least you’re facing forwards (not like the poor rowers who’re facing backwards, so any natural instinct you might have for port and starboard is up the spout). You wouldn’t believe how small the turning circles of these skiffs can be, especially if the rowers on port and starboard each row in different directions – that sound like it wouldn’t work but believe me it does when it’s coordinated. A turning circle smaller than that of a Lidl’s trolley IF it has four working wheels!

In the end, no injuries, no tears and no expensive yachts bashed: all in all we thought we’d had a fantastic day relatively ‘in control’ on the water. The trick now is to not forget the commands and techniques before we get back into a rowing boat… Big thanks to Liz at Lorn for arranging the course.

As our boat is still in-build, we want to hear from people who’ve worked with wood before. You don’t need to be a professional woodworker but help from semi-skilled or talented enthusiasts would be great. We meet up most Sat mornings at Kinlochmoidart. For more details, please get in touch with Eilish MacLellan or Lou Johnson.

Louise Johnson, Club Co-Chair

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

A report courtesy of Jean Langhorne.

As Scotland’s newest coastal rowing club, we were very chuffed to have a chance to take part in the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association (SCRA) cox training course at Ardfern recently.

The weekend was hosted by Craignish Boat Club and the two SCRA cox trainers were Liz Furrie from Broughty Ferry CR and Anne Purcell from Queensferry CR.

In attendance over the two day course were twenty trainee coxswains from four clubs: Craignish, Achnamara, Lorn and the two of us from Moidart. We were the keen rookies; the only ones without a club boat (yet!) and the least experienced rowers. However we were made to feel very welcome and really enjoyed the weekend. Saturday afternoon was classroom theory in the village hall (with plenty of cake and tea) and Sunday morning was coxing practice on the water in two beautiful skiffs: Daisy Bell and the Craignish Comet. The Saturday classroom session began with the skills and responsibilities of the cox, and what important considerations are involved in making the crucial decision of whether or not to launch the boat. We also discussed the role of the responsible person, lifejackets, potential hazards, the essentials of the boat, the boat checklist, the VHF and the most important element – the crew!

The weather on Sunday was warm and dry with a gentle breeze; ideal for practising the skills of boat handling, manoeuvring in tight spaces, buoy turns and backing onto a buoy, hard stops, spins, pontoon arrival and departure and oar deployment. 

A very informative and useful weekend: much to learn and practise, lots to think about in terms of what structures and protocols to put in place for our own club.

Everyone we met from the other three clubs were all very friendly and enthusiastic about all things skiff and rowing-related.

It was a real pleasure to have a chance to row these two beautiful skiffs: Achnamara’s “Daisy Bell and the “Craignish Comet”.

We’re really looking forward to having a chance to put these new rowing and coxing skills to good use very soon. While we’re waiting for our own Moidart skiff to be finished, we’re taking opportunities to get out on the water and get some rowing practice with Lochaber Coastal Rowing Club at Corpach, near Fort William.

Okay, so we didn’t exactly enter one of the ‘make your own’ categories at the Moidart Produce Show as such, but we certainly made a fine entrance so to speak with our first attendance at probably the most well attended event in the local calendar.

A pleasantly warm, sunny day gave us the ideal opportunity to chat with many local residents about our plans and aspirations for the club. In time, hopefully the positive response received will convert into new members willing to assist us as we soon begin building our first skiff!

Thanks again to all the members of the show committee and the Stewart’s of Kinlochmoidart for allowing us to attend such a fine event. We truly appreciate the opportunity and the rare exception being made to allow us to exhibit at the show.

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.