Coastal rowing has already captured the hearts and minds of communities along Scotland’s seaboard.
And now the sport, which began in Fife, is moving inland with volunteers on Loch Tay starting work on one of the country’s first skiffs destined for inland waters.
Linda Cracknell, 59, convener of the Loch Tay Skiff Club, said she had been inspired by communities in St Andrews and Broughty Ferry – where coastal rowing is increasingly popular – and her group was determined not to let the lack of local coastline hold them back.
“We live very far inland, but there was a group of us who wanted to get involved in this project,” she said.
“The movement has been about coastal rowing, but we thought why don’t we launch a boat on a fresh water loch?
“There was a lot of enthusiasm for the idea. At least 20 people turned up for the first meeting in January and it has grown from there. We didn’t all know each other and have discovered the idea has cut across generations and genders. It’s of real community benefit.
“The sport appeals to people who don’t see themselves as particularly sporty. You don’t have to be fantastically fit to do it.”
The National Lottery has just announced £2,250 from the Awards for All Scotland fund for the project. The extra money has given the 19ft skiff’s construction — in a volunteer’s garage — a much-appreciated boost.
“With the help of the funding we have started to build and we should be on the water by spring next year,” said Ms Cracknell.
“It’s very exciting. It has already brought so many different types of people together. We have those who are interested in traditional boat building and those who just want to row.
“The group includes furniture makers, woodland workers, chocolatiers, and others who just come in and say they have heard about it and want to get involved. We seem to have tapped into something.”
The Scottish Coastal Rowing Association was formed in 2010 to encourage boat building, rowing and racing of boats around the coastline. The sport is built around the St Ayles skiff model, which is sold in kit form and is relatively straightforward to construct.
Alec Jordan, of Jordan Boats, said he came up with the idea for St Ayles kits while living in East Wemyss in 2005.
He said the sport had gone from strength-to-strength with 317 kits sold world-wide, including South Africa and Brazil, and 164 of them in Scotland.
He said the Loch Tay kit was one of the first destined for inland waters, with other boats on Loch Awe in Argyll and in Strathpeffer.
“I think it’s surprising we haven’t seen this before.,” he said.
“There is getting to be growth there. There are folk at Killin thinking about it and one at Loch Earn is quite likely.”
A National Lottery Awards for All spokesperson said the £2,250 funding “means that Loch Tay Skiff Club can give local people the chance to come together, learn new skills and make new friends.
“Once the boat is built the club plan to share their newfound skills and experience with other communities in Highland Perthshire. All of this is possible thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players.”
