Category: Uncategorized

There’s something very warming about our annual freezing Frostbite Regatta.
It could be a combination of energy efficiency factors like the hot soup, stovies and chilli; the brilliant bakes; the warm camaraderie and optimistic spirit of rowers embracing a new rowing year; or the heat and energy radiating from the boats across the water as rowers catch and drive towards the finish line. Whatever it is, Frostbite at Kinghorn Loch is a special wee regatta with a big friendly heart and a wonderful face – to face the frequently cauld blast of North East February climate.

This year was no exception and after an initial hiccup due to weather conditions – Fife rowing clubs met, mingled and matched with each other on loch and land last Sunday March 2nd.

Often Frostbite provides the perfect opportunity and venue for new rowers to get their first stab at competing, and this year we welcomed Burntisland’s Black Rocks Club with their newly made St Ayles Skiff Irene. And what an inspiration it was to see how well this new club took to the water especially in the Sprints! No denying a Goodnight Irene there then. We also welcomed rookie rower Michael Thomson, whose head got watered in this year’s Frostbite regatta.

With the wind picking up throughout the day, we were glad of our overcoats and hot snacks, and Frostbite 2025 got off to a swift start. With the wind behind us on the outer leg but against us on the first and last, there was a lot of hard driving to be done. But done it was – in some instances very beautifully. It was our friends from Wormit that won the day, coming in first or second place across the board and displaying some rather splendid racing skills and spirit. Well done Wormit!

So as we move into March and the weather warms up, hot on the footrests of Frostbite, KCRC is finding a new training groove over and above our popular social rows. With Skiffie Worlds in sight, training has started for our world championship crews, and if you’re passing the loch on a Saturday afternoon or early Sunday morning stroll – then look out for us and give us a wave and a cheer!

We welcome new rowers at any time of year. We are open to all of any age or ability (big enough to manage an oar). Look out for our come and try sessions or contact us at kinghorncoastalrowingclub@gmail.com

Tina West has produced another excellent poetic write up of our recent club return to Monster the Loch, a 21 mile traversal of Loch Ness.

The full multimedia experience can be found here:
KCRC Monster the Loch Row 2022

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.

See also last year’s event: Monster the Loch 2021

Marie Gibbs writes:

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.

The full story, with words, photos, video and song is at the link here:
KCR – Lewis- An Eathar Expedition July 2022!

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.

Ken Hunter writes:

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.

Crew: Chris, Ken, Mandy, Trish, James

With Yolande up at the Loch for the winter, sea rows have been few and far between. But our Shetland Yoal, Reevik has been on a few outings in the Forth in between maintenance sessions. The most recent was a night time row on the solstice, December 21st.

It was a remarkably clear and still evening. Lit by a 360º lantern of bike lights mounted on a pole and donning head torches, the crew ventured out past Pettycur and circumnavigated the Black Rocks. With carol singing, jelly babies, and the lights of the Burgh spurring them on, they returned from the club’s first night time exercise. As an added bonus, Wee Eck performed its tractorly duty to perfection, towing Reevik back to the shed in one smooth balletic manoeuvre.

A great success for the log book and a fine precedent for future winter rows.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Chair Hannah Macniven writes up the club’s representation at the 2021 SCRA AGM and Freshwater Sprints, held at Loch Tummel yesterday.

It felt rather celebratory to be heading off to Loch Tummel for the Freshwater Sprints, on a dark and rainy morning, with Judith C. Only 2 attendees were allowed per club, so we knew things were not going to be the same as usual, but this was our first Regatta in ages, so we were going to make the most of it.

It was lovely to see so many clubs here at the race briefing when we were quickly organised into teams. There were 3 boats, Ferry Sonnet from North Queensferry, Arthur Nicol from Broughty Ferry and Chippy McNeish from Royal West, so races needed 12 rowers to participate. Things nearly came unstuck at the beginning when only 7 men owned up to being under 50. The race was then opened up to under 55’s, and then to under 60’s… But crews were formed, enough for a good selection of races to go ahead.

Racing was competitive and after watching the men’s race, Judith and I were ready to go, Jude in Chippy McNeish and me in Arthur Nicol. We introduced ourselves to the rest of our teams, started to come up with some kind of plan and BANG we were off!

The race was a blur of hurting legs, arms and lungs. I remember thinking “nearly at the buoy and I can stop rowing and hold water, whilst the other 2 row us round.” We were the first crew around the Buoy and we picked up the stroke andwere back at it, enthusiastically encouraged by our cox, Liz from Broughty Ferry. The finish was close and it was with great relief that we heard the hooter, Parp … Parp … … Parp! With wobbly legs and now-cleared lungs we disembarked to find out who won, and it was our crew in Arthur Nicol! Commiserations Jude, who’s team came a close second!

We could then enjoy the beautiful scenery and watch the rest of the races, before we headed to the AGM. As the weather started to improve and the sun tried to come out, Marie, Christine and Kathleen appeared too, to watch the races with us. It was lovely to catch up with old friends and make some new ones!

There was also a race for the SCRA shield, a mixed crew race with crews from 3 regions, North, South-East and South-West. This was won by our region, South-East in Arthur Nichol, with Liz as cox—well done guys! Here are the final results should anyone be interested, but all in all, I’m going to end with a cliché, it really wasn’t about the winning but the taking part!