Kortgene Skiffie Worlds 2022
I had the pleasure of attending the Skiffie World in 2022 following the home team of the Firth of Clyde Coastal Rowing Club, otherwise known as the FOCCR’s. Coastal rowing not being a sport I was familiar with is a community based activity with the FOCCR’s being established in 2012 as one of the founding clubs of the movement and celebrating their 10th birthday in 2022. The boats themselves are promoted as self build St. Ayles skiffs, and the World’s demonstrated the the St. Ayles coastal rowing ethos of community spirit and inclusiveness. To find out more about St. Ayles coastal rowing what this beautiful video put together for the 10th anniversary https://youtu.be/qFsWiFeIzsQ
Kortgene itself is a small town in the southwest of the Netherlands with an impressive marina, local shops and few places to eat and residential areas as well as a few windmills. The Worlds like other international sporting events are a welcome boost to the local economy.
The competition itself was exciting and close fought battles came down to efficiency of rowing, strength and the skill of being able to carry out a dead turn and get back up to speed for the sprint home. The crowds in the grandstand cheering the boats home over the final 500m or so gave some the strength to make it into the medal positions and take some world ranking points. There were broken oars and broken bodies, some disappointments but no broken spirits due to that St Ayles ethos! The rowers from Dundrum in Ireland took the competition with dominant performances all week and to find out more about the competition and results head over to https://www.skiffieworlds2022.com
The real winners were all those including young people who made friends across the world that opens up opportunity and friendship that is worth more than any medal. Those young people are now in regular contact thanks to modern day technology and are arranging meetings and rowing activities in Europe, Scotland and Ireland, funny how the catalyst was old technology of the St. Ayles Skiff, looks like old things have their uses! Following hard fought competition on the water or the exhausting chore of cheering on the boats and crews, there was live entertainment every night in the big tent! The atmosphere was just lovely that’s all I can say. We went expecting a bit of a break and a holiday, we came home exhausted but happy we got to experience an event which competition matters but relationship are essential.
Hope you enjoy the images to go with this wee bit of blurb.
Scott
