Tuesday last week I welcomed 8 Eyemouth rowers to have a wee row in our skiff John b and try out our oars.
I first met Alison when escorting the Eyemouth gala queen from St. Abbs and enjoying their hospitality in a party afterwards.
We borrowed their boat Seabreeze for a month or so in 2012 , after St. Baldred was damaged in the big storm.
We had a lovely couple of hours in and out the bay, along the west passage and out to the Craig. They were amazed at how many puffin puddles we had. And thoroughly enjoyed rowing the John B. The sun shone for us to have a wee picnic on the beach after, supported by the lovely Tracy and Claire.
So lovely to also be presented with a gorgeous bunch of flowers on my return home.
Then on Saturday the 3 amigos set forth with St. Baldred in tow on another bright warm day. Picking up an eastern lass (Patsy) on our merry way to anster where St. B. was first launched on 28 May 2010. This was the first getting together of skiffs and with the paint still drying and a space hopper for a Cox seat, the fun began. Six merry starter clubs, porty, boatie, Coigach, Ulla, anster and NB, a lot of oar thrashing and racing fun started off our amazing life changing sport for many communities.
So launching at anster with a stash of pies and cakes, we rowed down to Pittenweem to hand over our St. Baldred pilgrim token to St. Killian, a fifteen foot high puppet, which was then carried all up the coast. The Pittenweem skiff then delivered the wreath to fruitful with the soon to be Cellardyke queen, Ellie Deas. Rowing back up the coast practicing our lay back , trail oars and recover to be used later…there was mention of the red mist descending on more than one boat but a lovely long rythmatic stroke took us back to anster to retrieve the bishop and St. Ayles chaps aboard the home skiffs
We managed to grab a stow away (Lynn) as has been history for us from NBRC on the east Neuk side. The wind and waves having got up and with our stowaway, we needed a handicap system to see who benefitted. Three oars on each Fife boat with a passenger..
Onto Cellardyke and our practiced moves, an empty harbour of boats, the music bellowed out and cheers from a few hundred towns folks. The crowning of Ellie and throwing our oars in salute. Before 50 volunteers set off confetti flares , very striking against cobalt skies. Back on up to lay the wreath and model boats in commemoration of all those who’d lost their lives at sea.
The water was certainly whipping up as we returned to anster again where Crail were just changing crews to row back up the coast on training. The day was polished off the toasties in the sun before getting back to NB again.
Very proud to have been involved and such an amazing day. Richard from anster, put in a huge amount of work to get this all working seamlessly. And to our Robbie for getting us all together.
Jacque Turner