Tag Archives: skiff

An Invitation from the Commodore: –

After over a year of hard work, from a wide variety of individuals and community organisations, the Forfar Skiff will be transferred to Forfar Sailing and Water sports Club for ongoing management and coordination on the 5th of November.

This will involve ‘parading’ the beautiful, hand-built and finished, grey and red vessel through the streets of Forfar leaving the Cricket club build facility at 11 am on the 5th of November with the launch anticipated to be at midday on St Margaret’s Inch.

I would like to invite and encourage all sailing club members to this event where we are hoping to have visiting Skiffs and further opportunities to try a row which is a ‘dry’ water sport and all safety equipment will be provided.

Come along, support this fantastic community achievement and (hopeful) find another social, fun way to get a gentle or good workout depending on your preference.

Thank you in anticipation

Mark

FSWC Commodore.

“Sticks ?‍♀️ and Rags ⛵️ on Forfar Loch”

The FSC Midsummer Madness – a day of fun in the sun on Forfar Loch dawned cloudy and blustery with the threat of a shower or two. The North Queens Ferry visitors arrived first with the St Andrews visitors not long behind and the weather was soon forgotten as the skiffs were prepped and launched and after a coffee and cake the first crews took to the water.

As the day progressed the visitors utilised the hosts and other Forfonians on the oars who where all willing crews and very little pressing was needed. Once the skiffs had been tried some of the sailors took to the water for a blast in the blustery north eastish-north westish breeze with some exciting reaching getting the sail dinghies planning nicely, with only yours truly wetting his sail.

A rowing skiff seen through some grass on the shore, the name 'Blue Bay' and number 122 at the bow. 4 rowers and a cox

As the afternoon drew on the gauntlet was thrown and what can be thought of as the Inaugural Forfar Skiff race (now there’s an honour) saw a St Andrews vs North Queens Ferry race start with St Andrews making a powerful start and leading to the turning buoy, an admirable effort from the N Queens crew saw them close the gap on the turn but not quite able to drive the power through on the second half to over take the St Andrews team who finished first – well done. No prizes (this time) but bragging rights for the First Skiff to win a race on Forfar Loch go to St Andrews. ?

This was a great day with lots of people on the water and at the club, huge thanks to the visiting clubs we are very grateful and with the opportunity to chat to other local skiff clubs the beginnings of new club relationships and friendships have been commenced. As always thanks to FSC members for the great showing on the cake front and come down to try ‘pulling the sticks’.

rowing a skiff

Here is a video of some of us rowing a visiting skiff, want to find out more? Come and see us this Sunday (19-06) when there are more skiffs to see. Coffee and tea will be available, with a piece of cake or a biscuit.

A visiting skiff with members of the sailing and water sports club having a go.

Skiff building update

The Forfar Community Skiff is to be named ‘Greg Luckhurst’ in memory of a local businessman, the late Greg Luckhurst, who passed away in 2021. A generous donation from Greg’s family allowed us to purchase a St Ayles skiff kit.
This project is currently underway and is being built for the use of the local community on Forfar Loch – to promote healthy outdoor community activities as well as fitness, through rowing for pleasure or as a competitive sport

We are making good progress with the Skiff now we have solved the condensation problem in the shed.
Working parties are to be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from now on – starting from next Tuesday (25th Jan) at 9-30am.

There will be three separate jobs within the main project before we start the build:-

Scarphing and glueing the planks  
Fitting and glueing the frames  
Laminating and glueing the bow and stern sections

These tasks will involve spreading epoxy on the wooden boat parts and clamping them together. We will only be able to do so much at a time as the epoxy has to cure, and this will take time due to current temperatures.

We require up to 100 woodworking clamps – so if you have some, that we could borrow for a few months, please bring them along.

I would suggest you bring coveralls of some description as epoxy is difficult to remove from clothing. Nitrile protective gloves will be supplied when using epoxy.

Tea/Coffee and choccy biscuits are available

See more information on the Forfar Rotary Club Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/forfarrotaryclub