La Malouine moored in front of Riverside Museum
After a week to recover their strength after the Exciseman’s Chase, nine Arran rowers (Caroline, Cil, Charlie, Dave, Emma, Fritzi, Karen, Ronnie and Stuart) took both of their skiffs (Seabhag and Iolair) to the Castle to Crane race at the Clydebuilt Festival, a 13 mile (21km) row along the Clyde from Dumbarton to Finnieston Crane at the Riverside Museum in the heart of Glasgow city. The crews were completed by Anett from Carrick CRC. Most of the crew stayed one or 2 nights on the tallship La Malouine, together with the Dutch crews. It was enjoyed by all!
With the ongoing ferry problems, it was touch and go if we could get there at all but the arrival of the Hebridean Isles meant that passage for the trailer and both 22ft wooden boats was assured. It caused a wee bit of hassle for the crew from Islay to get their skiff across, as we had one of their ferries down on Arran – but luckily they also made it.
Getting ready at Dumbarton
The race was open to any fixed seat, coxed rowing boats of at least four oars and 75 in total took part, including not only St Ayles Skiffs but also such boats as Cornish and Pilot Gigs and Shetland Yoles, making for a magnificent spectacle at the foot of Dumbarton Castle on the Saturday morning. As – in contrast to other clubs – we hadn’t trained specifically for such a long row we decided to just enjoy the occasion and interesting scenery along the Clyde.
The Iolair crew had a leisurely row with regular crew changes and an interesting sightseeing commentary about the history of what could be seen from Caroline. Starting in the category Open Mixed, they finished in a very respectable 2 hours 24 minutes and 50 seconds.
Seabhag started in the 50+ Mixed category and decided to go as fast as was enjoyable. The result was therefore a big surprise to everybody – with an impressive time of 2 hours 4 minutes and 15 seconds Seabhag had the 13th fastest time of all 60 participating St Ayles Skiffs, was the 7th fastest skiff in the category 50+ and the 2nd fastest skiff in the category Mixed 50+. And that with no crew change and a heavier than usual cox. One wonders what would have happened if the crew had tried to win!
Congratulations to all rowers on this big success. The hard, continuous training over the whole year has been paying off and this is another remarkable milestone in a very successful regatta season. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the first appearance at this event, which most certainly won’t be the last. And both crews agreed that there will be some serious traning for next year’s Castle to Crane and that ACRC will go competitive next year 😉
Results
And here the link to the official results of Castle to Crane 2018.
Photos
Dave and Emma always find time for some cracking shots – Thank you! Click this link to their album on the Arran Coastal Rowing Facebook page.
And there are also hundreds!!! of super photos on the Castle to Crane Facebook page.
Castle to Crane crews 2018
