This Sunday (16 April) we have a training day for beginners and anyone that would like a refresher. The syllabus for this first session will be focusing around the initial introduction to sailing with teaching focused on rigging and sailing (with a competent helm/crew) double-hander boats. The plan will be to use the club Wanderer, Feva’s or members’ own double-hander boats.
Work party
A very big thank you to all our spring cleaners and DIYers.
A great turnout from sailor and skiffies and real progress has been made into preparing the club for the coming season. Deep cleans in all areas, showers fixed, boiler started, sign posts placed, mesh on pontoon sorted, litter picked (Nice one Jack), chains relayed, Sailing marks placed and trolleys sorted (no comments about me being off mine, I know it already
).
Thank you everyone that came down today, don’t worry if you couldn’t make it today – there’s still stuff to do.
So, tomorrow, skiffies have a couple of sessions planned and the sailors will be returning the boats from the Tattie shed. The plan for the sailors will be to meet at the shed at 10am. I will be at the club at about 0930 to drop my boat off so I can tow some club boats from the shed.
See you tomorrow
And truly – Thanks again to all.
Website updated
Hi, if you look closer at the options on the web site you might notice that there have been a few updates. We are still working on adding more information specifically about the new skiff. If you would like to see information displayed on the website, please contact us. (if you find that something is not working as expected, drop us an email)
Skiff sessions in the new year
If you haven’t been to the club recently, you might not be aware that the skiff rowing sessions are back after the ice on the loch has disappeared. Here are some photos from a recent session.
If you would like to take part, try it out or want to have a chat with some of the rowers contact the club to find out when the next session is.
Boats away
Last Sunday we took ours and members’ boat away into the shed for winter. The day before we did a bit of rescuing as the water level on the Loch had risen by about 6 Feet. Here are some photos from before and on the day
And the next day there was even more…
Skiff launch
Last Saturday, 5th November saw the cumulation of 12 months of work coordinated by Forfar Rotary of the building and launch of Forfar’s New community St Ayles Skiff.
 If you have been watching Facebook over the past year you will be aware of the progress of refitting the Strathmore cricket clubs storage shed with a vapour barrier, electrics and benches, the building of formwork moulds loaned by Royal Tay’s Broughty rowing section, massive fundraising by Rotary’s Gordon Peterkin, development of epoxy techniques in sub-zero temperatures (well it felt like that), the incredible commitment and enthusiasm for 3 half days a week for at least 10 months, of a small number of amateur boat builders and some very necessary participation and guidance from a couple of retired craftsmen, the final sanding, and 5 coat painting and varnishing by another select group of volunteers.. and an awful lot of other volunteer support.. (Including coffee makers).
And.. eventually, in almost record time an incredible crowd of more than 100.. some say 150 to welcome the launch of our new skiff… the Greg Luckhurst named after a local businessman/plumber who died recently in the prime of his life and whose family contributed the seed corn funding for the project.
This will be the first of two skiffs to be funded by a selection of sources, national and local funds, local businesses, and personal donations which will be owned by the Rotary charity fund but given to FSWC to use and manage as we see fit to grow skiff rowing for the healthy enjoyment of the community.
The build team are having a 3-month break to 1st March until it gets warm enough for the epoxy before we start on the second one.
There are still some teething issues to be sorted out, but we had a great day with Catterline and North Queensferry skiffs saluting us on the launch and Radio sailors boats in attendance.. and a lot of folks had a row!! Not a row!
Details of follow-up sessions will follow, but the first session is on Saturday 19th at 10 am when we will have our first row by ourselves, 20 max in the session.. and all the places may have gone by now!!
Watch this space.. The committee is discussing organisation on Monday and details will be on our Facebook site. I’m delighted that Sarah Ramage an enthusiastic Rotary member is coordinating it all and did a splendid STV interview earlier this week that’s the publicity we need!
Contact point:- skiff @forfarsailing.org.uk
Look back at Forfar Community Skiff or Forfar Rotary Facebook pages for some of the historic photos
Tony