Race Report 2016

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This years Forth Midsummer Challenge was held on 18th of June 2016 – once again cohosted by Newhaven Coastal Rowing Club and Corrinthains Yacht Club.
Our race is unique on the Scottish Coastal Rowing calender, involving racing yachts, rowing skiffs and intrepid runners, it once again reflects the spirit of mucking about with friends on the water. A 6 leg relay race (with the runner acting as the ‘baton’ inbetween Granton and Newhaven harbour, with yachts, skiffs and runners each taking 2 legs of the relay – in previous years its been an exciting and closely fought race and this year proved to be no exception.
It was a grey morning, but with a slight breeze, and the hopeful promise of sunshine later in the day, skiffies, yachties and runners were all fueled by bacon rolls and coffee before heading out on the water. The Yachts were away swiftly, racing to Newhaven harbour with thir runners on board whilst the rowers waited expectantly on the pontoon for news of their runner returning. Excited shouts alerted rowing crews and as runners joined their skiffs, the boats headed out into Wardie Bay as the first rowing leg of the relay commenced. Some excellent rowing followed and all teams returned to granton looking strong as the runners sprinted off once again and duly returned with the yachts.
A brief intermission of more coffee, hot soup, and for some clubs, a crew change and then the final leg of the relay began. A Grand Prix rolling start with a slow lap of the harbour first, the skiffs went off fast in the order that the teams had completed the earlier legs of the relay.
Newhaven lead the start of this final race, but with strong teams behind them, this was always going to be a hard final row for everyone. The lucky support crew that were on the spectator yachts got to see some truely competitive and skilled rowing as Anstruther showed themselves once again to be a fiercely strong team and they were first past the post with a convincing win.

Full race results with rowing clubs and yachts are below:
1. Anstruther/Eclipse
2. Newhaven/Malin
3. Cockenzie/Ancala
4. N Berwick/Saphire Maxi
5. St Andrews/Maxine
6. Eskmuthe/Indulgance
7. Portobello/Kashanji II
8. Queensferry/Smij
9. Dunbar/Eastie Beastie

The sun had come out over the course of the afternoon, taking everyone by suprise, so as the skiffs were recovered and the bbqs were lit, last minute suncream was applied and tshirts sales increased!
It was great to see all particiants enjoying a drink and a burger with us as medals were awarded to the winning team and Dunbar were giving a fantastic cake as a prize for the most determined crew to participate after turning up with 2 crew members, a runner, their boat and a huge bag of enthusiasm!
Newhaven Coastal Rowing and Corrinthians Yacht Club would like to thank all those who came along, helped out, rowed, ran, sailed, bbqed and just generally had a great time.

Save The Date!

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18th of June 2016 is the date for this years Forth Midsummer Regatta.
Promising to be a great event with 8 clubs already confirmed for our usual friendly competition powered by sail, oar and leg. More information and overall general excitment will be coming over the following weeks as we untangle our bunting, paint our boats and get the barbeques lit in preparation.

Watch this space!

Race Report

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Forth Midsummer Challenge
20 June 2015

Saturday 20th June saw the ‘Forth Midsummer Challenge’ being held again and hosted by Newhaven Coastal Rowers and the Forth Corinthian Yacht Club.

A unique event in the skiff calendar, the race embraces the spirit of ‘mucking about in boats’ and involves Skiffs and yachts being paired into teams with a runner to complete a six leg relay race between Newhaven and Granton harbours on the North Edinburgh waterfront. Each skiff, yacht and runner completes two legs, with the runner acting as the baton and being carried by the skiffs and yachts during their legs too (with the yachts a tad more comfortable to travel in).

This year, teams from Broughty Ferry, Wormit, Anstruther, Crail, Eskmuthe, Boatie Blest, Dunbar, and North Berwick accepted the challenge and joined Newhaven and nine local yachts for a bit of friendly competition powered by sail, oar and leg.

Conditions were good for racing, with morning rain showers clearing to give a dry afternoon for the race and plenty of wind for the yachts.

The yachts started first, carrying the runners to Newhaven and leaving the skiffs in Granton anxiously waiting news of which boat had got there first and scanning the waterfront for sight of any runners heading their way. Pretty soon runners started to appear and the pontoon burst into life with a flurry of oars as the skiffs set off one after another on their first circuit.

After five keenly contested legs of sailing, running and rowing, everything came down to the last skiff leg which this year was arranged on a rolling ‘Grand Prix’ start basis, with the skiffs lined up in the order that their teams had completed the first five legs of the race. Boatie Blest took pole position, with their hosts Newhaven in second and Wormit, attending their first ever regatta, holding onto a respectable third. The rest of the teams stretched out behind with Anstruther and Crail bringing up the rear. The skiffs completed a lap of Granton Harbour in this order before the horn sounded and they were off, out of the harbour and round a 1.5km course. Anyone who thought it was a foregone conclusion was wrong – Boatie Blest were first to the turn, but it soon transpired that something pretty special was happening behind them as Anstruther charged through the field determined to make up as many places as possible. In the end, they made up seven, pipping Newhaven for second and giving Boatie Blest a real run for their money. An amazing showing, which earned them an impromptu award at the end!

Final results:

1. Boatie Blest / Kashangie II
2. Anstruther / Castellar
3. Newhaven / Maxine
4. Broughty Ferry / Lady Nadonna
5. Dunbar / Indulgence
6. North Berwick / Silver Lining
7. Crail / Dorado
8. Eskmuthe / An Cala
9. Wormit / Eclipse

Special mention also has to be made of the fine showing from both Broughty Ferry and Wormit, both in their first racing season, and those teams who gamely turned up with one crew to row both legs.

To top off a great day of friendly competition the sun came out in time for the BBQ and prize giving. As last year, everyone went home with a medal in recognition of their contribution to the success of the day.

Newhaven Coastal Rowing and Forth Corinthians absolutely had a ball – it was great fun and its hoped next year will be even bigger and better.

Race Day Update

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Wow! What an amazing day! The Forth Midsummer Challenge Regatta was brilliant and we hope everyone other club enjoyed it may as much as we did. There will be photos aplenty shortly – but in the mean time, well done to the Boatie Blest team from Port Seton for first place, followed by the most amazing row by Anstruther in second place and Newhaven in third. Well done to everyone who took part, rowers, runners, sailors, bbqers, bakers, photographers, cheerers, the choir and everyone else! Thank you all so much for making it a great day!