This article appeared in Kinghorn Chronicle Issue 40 – March 2025
by Stuart Gilmour – press officer
Kinghorn Coastal Rowing Club’s 10th Anniversary.
Thanks to everyone who came to our 2nd Annual Festive Soirée! Good Mulled and Warm cheer. Thanks to all the star bakers who contributed to our event..delicious!
At our three social gatherings last year we raised £180 for Erskine. A massive thank you to one and all!
We are very much looking forward to another season of Rowing, Competitions, regattas and social events.
This article appeared in Kinghorn Chronicle Issue 39 – December 2024
by Tina West
A Cox, 6 Rowers and the River Clyde
Sandpoint Marina, on the eyebrow of Dumbarton Castle is a thriving hub of activity at 9am on Saturday 7th Sept. If you were passenger on a passing flight overhead and happened to look down at this point in time and place, you might find your own eyebrow raised at what might resemble batallions of brightly coloured ants marching up and down the slipway carrying colourful wee boats onto the river Leven. But these are not ants ! no indeed, these are Coastal Rowers from all over Scotland preparing for Scotland’s biggest open water rowing race from Dumbarton Castle to the iconic Finniston Crane. Also, if you look very carefully in amongst them, you might notice the blue, yellow and white hue of Kinghorn’s Coastal Rowing Team with their Shetland Yoal, Reevik.
Yep, there we were, making ready for this rather splendid 13-mile watery hike through Clydebank ship-building history, part of the Clydebuilt Festival an annual event celebrating Glasgow Clyde Maritime present and past.
Castle2Crane row is a joyous (but challenging) race, where this year 41 fixed seat rowing boats gathered at Dumbarton Quay on a gleaming Saturday morning. The castle itself, an interesting ancient walled monument, smiles it’s majesty down on you, licking its rivery lips to reveal strange tooth-like shipwrecks capped in mossy green seaweed securely entrenched in the gummy riverbed.
Then before you could say ‘shiver-me-timbers sculling, sweep or ready to row’ we were off! Phil Godding our confident, experienced hawk-eyed cox pushing his rowers ; Ken Hunter, James Wheare, Judith Frame, myself Tina West, Mhairi Gibbs and newbe rower Nigel Minhinick to their level best, and what a row it was! Past docklands, navy ships, iconic bridges under the Erskine Bridge and through Clydebank’s newest road bridge at Renfrew, still in construction, its white pylons sticking up in in the air like two great Victory V signs signalling hope for something significant to come.
Upping the game Cox Phil G began pushing us at 100% full-on rowing intervals, and, on occasion we began passing other boats on the Clyde. This is a rare occurrence for team Kinghorn so rowing with the wind, regaling repartee, spirits soaring our oars timeously caught and drove through the water, lending the boat, lovely synchronicity and speed.
We even managed to fend off (for the first 7 miles only) the Basque Boat: Pilgrim Pedrena who had come all the way from Santander to compete – a larger boat of 12 rowers sporting blue and white striped shirts and jolly red neck scarves with their proud pea-cox standing tall steering the boat with his tail-like oar.
It was a wonderfully fun race, and a very respectable 2 hours 39 minutes later, there we were approaching Bells Bridge, crossing the finish line, hallelujah-ed by warm weggies , sunshine and song. We slowly doubled back down river towards the Squinty Bridge desembarking in Kelvin Harbour, to the sound of festival music and River museum merriment.
There is a democracy and team spirit within the rowing community. Everyone helps each other out in the preparation and culmination of each row. It can be a lot of work – the logistics, row planning and execution, event preparations, travelling and labouring over the mechanics of getting the boat there and back safe and sound. We have unsung heroes too working tirelessly behind the scenes, designing, repairing, fixing, transporting. But the sense of freedom and wellness when you are out there on the water is what makes this activity sing. I love it and thank the stars (and our unsung heroes) I am part of this special community.
We are very much looking forward to celebrating with lots of social activities, recently we took part in the ‘Ruby Bay.’ Challenge..much fun was had by all who took part!
Earlier in the year we celebrated with a Social Row and Pizza Event in the Boat House..Delicious food provided by the catering team!
Special thanks to Peter whose excellent contribution to the day was very much appreciated!
This month we are all very much looking forward to our Second “An Evening of Indian Cuisine.” To be held at the Bowling Club.
This article appeared in Kinghorn Chronicle Issue 37 – June 2024
by Stuart Gilmour – press officer
KHCRC FROSTBITE REGATTA
February saw our wonderful Coastal Rowing Club, welcoming several Fife clubs to take part in our annual Regatta at Kinghorn Loch.
A fine display of skilled rowing and friendly competition saw Elie take the top spot.
The weather was lovely which made the proceedings enjoyable for all those attending the event.
Special thanks.
It was very much appreciated that Gordon Dixon (Paddleboard Fife.) lent us their Pizza Oven which gave the catering team an added dimension to the hospitality available for our guests.
So much so we have purchased our own! Watch this space for future catering developments.
Thanks to the catering team! also all the members who helped make this event a great success.
“Oar you are awful but I like you.”
Some breaking news.. A very generous anonymous donation means we are now able to purchase a brand new set of specially designed racing oars which will enhance our competitive edge especially at ongoing events and regattas this year. Exciting times ahead!
This article appeared in Kinghorn Chronicle Issue 36 – March 2024
by Stuart Gilmour – press officer
BOATSHED SOIRÉE.
Kinghorn coastal rowing club had their inaugural Christmas Boatshed Soirée.
The committee would like to thank all those who made the evening a success!
It was really lovely to see
new and old friends catching up over some lovely mulled wine and some terrific baking savoury and sweet! Many thanks to everyone who contributed it is as always very much appreciated!
Carolyn, Roy and Christine all received their lifetime membership certificates..and last but not least, due to everyone’s generous contributions on the evening we were able to make a donation to Erskine totaling £120! helping those less fortunate…especially at Christmastime.
This article appeared in Kinghorn Chronicle Issue 35 – December 2023
by Stuart Gilmour – press officer
“THESE ARE A ROWERS LOVES.” (a year in review.)
It’s been a very busy year of Adventurous Rowing, Racing, Boat maintenance and Socialising at Kinghorn coastal rowing club.
ADVENTURE AND TRIUMPH
Inverkeithing High School project.
Frostbite Regatta. friends reunite.
Perth to Wormit. The Silvery Tay
Fife Gathering, Lochore. Always Competitive.
RNLI open day. Kinghorn. Funday! Try Curling event. Fun on the ice. Bit slippy. Queensferry Regatta. lots of gold medals! congratulations to all the recipients.
Aberdour picnic row. Rain did not stop play or our enthusiasm.
An evening of Indian cuisine. A exceptional social evening of food and chat.
Great Tyne Row, stunning long distance row and a shield.
Castle to Crane, Reevik fastest Yoal( Yes THE fastest.)
Monster the Loch- 21 miles of sustained rowing.
The ceilidh raised £500 for The Cottage Centre.
THANK YOU TO
Special thanks go to our coxes, who are willing to take on the responsibility for our boats out on the sea, Phil, Chris, Doug G, Judith, Denise, Scott, Alan, Trish and Peter, we really couldn’t row without you.
Not to mention our maintenance team and assistants, who are both generous with their time, consummate knowledge and skills-Bob, Jim, Scott, Chris and Ken. A massive thank you!
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
It was agreed and with great pleasure that some members outstanding contributions to the Rowing club over the years be recognised. Christine, Carolyn and Roy were awarded life time memberships during our last AGM.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Hannah, Denise, Trish and Tahra are out going members of the committee. We wish them luck and thank them for all their dedication and hard work ensuring we all are properly organised to row and most importantly safely. Hannah, who after several years as Chairperson is stepping down, we all thank you for your service, support and leadership over the years.
“ON IT LIKE A BOAT’S BONNET…”
SEA SONNET (By Tina West.)
Red Poppies line Kirkcaldy’s creviced walls An easterly solstice breeze on water calls And sweet Yolande’s crew do subtlety steal. Past regal Reevik swift and hot on heel Gulls and gannets swarm the evening air Serenading this gallant seaworthy pair Oarlocks beside me gently creak and strain As rowers catch and drive without complain With arms outstretched I push my body through And in lay-back I softly think of you And with each passing stroke of timely oars I close the gap towards those heavenly shores For nowhere else on earth does breath commune Off ‘ring escape to this golden sea broch tune.
There is a rich and glorious serenity that permeates this great loch.
Arriving early morning and gazing out across this magnificent body of water is both a meditative and mindblowing experience. Its quiet epic presence is a little daunting too, this 22 mile black silk stocking stretch of water. But before you have time to contemplate any further there’s work to be done as the loch comes to life teaming with rowers, like armies of ants, around the field at Fort Augustus busily preparing for the great Monster Row.
Kinghorn Coastal Rowing Club were asked by a club member who worked as a teacher at Inverkeithing High School whether we would be interested in working with some pupils for a programme of rowing sessions while Yolande was wintering at Kinghorn Loch.
The result of Covid on some pupils meant that the transition from primary to secondary school, or home to school was very difficult and had made accessing mainstream school almost impossible for some. Giving these pupils a chance to go out on the water and row as a team felt very in line with our remit as a community oriented club.
Ten club members volunteered and after a huge effort behind the scenes we managed to gain funding, PVGs, and the go ahead from Fife council and insurance companies.
We liaised with Pete, the Pupil Support Officer for the pupils, organised a time, bought hoodies, wind proof jackets and life jackets so that along with the donated gloves, hats, jackets, biscuits, and juice we were all set to welcome our young rowers.
The pupils were second years and came along looking quiet, polite and anxious. but they were reassured that they would be able to row.
Over the weeks these pupils carefully listened to instructions given by our coxes, learned to work together, learned water safety, and enjoyed taking in the wildlife at the loch.
They did so well that eventually four pupils were able to row together, take turns at coxing the boat, and competed with each other in races.
All volunteers were very proud of these young people and to see how they made friendships within their group, grew in confidence to initiate conversation and chat about their lives with adults and share photographs taken up at the loch. They looked forward to the hot rolls and drinks shared with the volunteers at the barn cafe.
Staff from the school who came along to see the pupils at the loch said they were surprised at how confident, relaxed and happy the group were compared to how they behaved in school.
We finished with a great celebration down at The Boat Shed. The RNLI were so kind in giving the pupils a tour of their building and a talk about the work they do.
This was followed by a presentation of medals, personal well-done cards and a photo album for each of the pupils.
A delicious cake and lunch at the community centre ended a wonderful ten session programme.
The pupils were asked if there was anything we could have done differently to make it a better experience and the reply was NO, and they had all had a really good time.
So all in all, it was a great experience for everyone involved and a big big thank you to our volunteers and organisers from the club.
When we were asked to do it again all ten volunteers quickly replied “Yes” so we begin again with another set of pupils in October.
This project was made possible with funding from Localgiving, Foundation Scotland, and The University of St Andrews Community Fund.
Tina West has written a wonderful account of this year’s expedition to Lewis, organised by An Eathar Rowing Club at the start of July, in our Shetland yoal Reevik.
There was certainly something extraordinary about this experience, something to do with connecting different rhythms climates and cultures, new senses collective strokes. A coming together… a living, listening, seeing, meeting, making, moving picture of friendship and community.
Our Shetland Yoal, Reevik, purchased by the club during 2021 has been undergoing refurbishment work in the boatshed over recent months by our team of dedicated club member volunteers. Following stripping out, work was suspended due to cold weather in January and February but resumed when temperatures rose adequately to allow repairs to some minor cracks in the hull, a new keel plate and gunnel patching, prior to a full repaint with some minor additions such as hanging rails, cleats, and new thwarts.
The new colour scheme was chosen by a majority vote of our members to be club colours reflecting that of our sister skiff, Yolande. Apart from some coughing and spluttering with some minor under-breath expletives during sanding down the old paint, she was expertly prepared, undercoated, and top-coated with love! See for yourself the transformation – looking fantastic and ready for her re-launch on Sunday, 5th June, 2022. The bonus was that some of us learned new skills in cleat making and intricate wood inlay repairs to such areas as the gunnel where age had taken its toll.
Members were bursting to see her on the water again and look forward to some more rows off Kinghorn. In early July she heads northwest with crew to engage with other clubs entering an open coastal event on the Isle of Lewis, a repeat of our successful expedition last year. She will thereafter return home to resume club duties for the enjoyment of club members and interested visitors during the summer season.
Picking up Reevik for the first timeOn our 2021 expedition to LewisFlipped and ready for sandingBob in his happy placeAlmost ready for the inside refitJim applying some finishing touchesReevik was built in Vidlin on ShetlandProudly sporting her new coloursPreparing to relaunchAlongside Yolande and club members at the relaunch
