Latest news with #SkiffieWorlds2025
Daily Record
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Stranraer prepares to host 2025 Scottish Fin and Foil Championships
The wind sports event takes place on Loch Ryan just weeks after the town hosted the record-breaking SkiffieWorlds 2025. Stranraer is gearing up to host the Scottish Fin and Foil Championships. The wind sports event takes place on Loch Ryan in August just weeks after the town hosted the record-breaking coastal rowing world championships, SkiffieWorlds 2025. Fin and Foil, now in its third year, will see 80 to 100 of the UK's finest windsurfers, wing foilers, hydrofoil sailors, and their coaches, converge on Stranraer. Competitors will take part in four days of training, followed by three days of spectacular high-speed racing across multiple classes from August 8 to 10. The event is being supported by Stranraer Water Sports Association and trustee Kevin Packer said: 'We are thrilled to welcome another world-class water sports event to Loch Ryan. The Scottish Fin and Foil Championships offer spectators a completely different experience to SkiffieWorlds, but an equally enjoyable one. The sight of these colourful sails and lightning-fast hydrofoils racing across our beautiful loch is spectacular. 'The Scottish Fin and Foil Championships showcase the cutting-edge technology and athleticism of modern wind sports. We encourage everyone who enjoyed the festival atmosphere of SkiffieWorlds to come and experience something completely different, and to even have a go themselves.' The championship event is unique in the UK and is supported by RYA Scotland and the UK Windsurfing Association. At least four races will take place each day, which can be viewed from the shore or on water by spectators. Chair of Scottish Fin and Foil, Danny Hawthorn, said: "Loch Ryan offers the perfect combination of reliable wind conditions, sheltered waters, and excellent shore access that makes it ideal for championship-level competition. 'The eight-mile sea loch provides consistent conditions while remaining spectator-friendly, and the support we receive from Stranraer Water Sports Association and the local community is exceptional.' An estimated 50 to 60 volunteers are expected to be involved, supporting both land and water-based operations. Anyone interested in volunteering can register at the event website. As well as the racing, Scottish Fin ∧ Foil are organising windsurfing and wing taster sessions, with a particular focus on opportunities for young people. These sessions, run by qualified instructors from the Windsurf Club, will provide local residents and visitors with the opportunity to experience windsurfing and wing foiling firsthand. Taster sessions are available for children aged 12 and above, as well as adults, with all equipment provided, at a cost from £20 per session. Participants must be able to swim and should bring wetsuits and appropriate footwear.
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Scotsman
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
'Historic' coastal rowing world championships swell Scottish loch and club pride
Captains, coxes and coastal rowing crews created history at the largest ever gathering of its kind at the SkiffieWorlds 2025. More than 2,000 rowers from 78 clubs across four continents competed in St Ayles Skiffs - which are built for rowing at sea and have four crew, four oars and a cox - over a week on Loch Ryan at Stranraer. Scotland was well represented, with clubs from all corners of the country - from Highland to Aberdeenshire, Angus, Edinburgh and the West Coast, converging in Dumfries and Galloway for the contest, which is held every three years. Teams also travelled from Australia, USA, Canada, South Africa, and the Netherlands for the event. Northern Irelands's Dundrum Coastal Rowing Club took the world title for the fourth time after collecting 8 golds, 2 silver and 5 bronze medals over the course of the competition. Portobello's Eastern Amateur Rowing Club - known as The Eastern - were named runners up overall with their Under 17 crew taking the world title in their category. Overall, the club took home two golds, eight silver and five bronze medals. Ailsa Cook, a founder member of 'The Eastern' which celebrates its 10th anniversary this December, said it had been an 'amazing and intense' experience. Ms Cook said: 'The racing was excellent and the weather was incredible. Stranraer had done a brilliant job setting it all up. There were huge screens where you could watch all the races and there were people from all over the world screaming for their clubs. 'We are really delighted at our results and our Under 17s took the gold in their race. They are all 13, 14, 15 and 16 and they did absolutely brilliantly in their competition.' The world championship returned to Stranraer following the town's highly successful hosting debut in 2019. The top placed international team was WSV Woudrichem, from the Netherlands, in third place, winning gold in three classes. Golspie Rowing Club placed fifth and collected three gold medals while North Berwick ranked sixth overall. Eskmuthe Coastal Rowing Club, based in Musselburgh, took home their first medal after their U19 mixed crew collected silver. Meanwhile, Strathpeffer took home gold in the 60+ mixed class, while St Ayles won gold in the women's 280 class – a category in which the combined ages of all four rowers must be at least 280 years. Despite challenging weather conditions at the start of the event, the championship demonstrated both the resilience of the sport and the exceptional suitability of Loch Ryan as a venue for major water sports competitions, organisers said. Max Berends, Chair of St Ayles Skiff International, said: "As a blueprint for SkiffieWorlds I'd say Stranraer is the ideal location. 'It runs very smoothly, the volunteers and the community are tremendous, and it all comes together to create an event that is ideal. Even with the challenging weather at the start of the event, we were able to reschedule easily because of the scale of the water. 'This sport is all about health and community, and many rowers have commented on the warmth of the Stranraer community. It's just the whole package that comes together here." Wendi Cuffe, Trustee of Stranraer Water Sports Association, who organised SkiffieWorlds, said: "It's been amazing. I'm in absolute awe that these people have come from so far to fill our beach and to race on Loch Ryan. 'It's been absolutely fantastic. All the clubs have been very kind, they've complimented us on our organisation, on our communication and this week has exceeded all my hopes and expectations for this event. "The fact that the Stranraer community backed us 100% has been the biggest part of it. They believed in us; they believed our water sports association could deliver this and they supported us to do it. We are so grateful to our community.' 1 . A historic weekend on the water A record-breaking 78 clubs and more than 2,000 rowers took part in the Skiffie Worlds 2025 over five days of competition on Loch Ryan at Stranraer. | Kirstin McEwan Photo: Kirstin McEwan Photo Sales 2 . A hard row The Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club, from Greenock, take to the water on day three of the competition. | Kirstin McEwan Photo Sales 3 . Club capital Rowers from the Edinburgh-based Eastern Amateur Coastal Rowing Club - or The Eastern. The club came in second place overall at the Skiffie Worlds 2025. | Kirstin McEwan Photo Sales 4 . C'mon The Eastern! Supporters of the Edinburgh-based Eastern Amateur Coastal Rowing Club cheer on their rowers. | Kirstin McEwan Photo Sales Related topics: Stranraer
Edinburgh Reporter
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Edinburgh Reporter
Delayed start to coastal rowing event
Skiffieworlds, the world championships of St Ayles class of coastal rowing, was due to get underway in Stranraer on Tuesday after strong winds caused the beginning of the international event to be delayed by 24 hours. Some 200 rowers from 79 clubs had signed up for the event including the likes of Eskmuthe from Fisherrow and Portobello's Eastern Rowing Club. Others travelled from much further afield, notably Australia. However, organisers had little alternative but to call a halt as a northerly wind blew directly down the eight miles of Loch Ryan making it difficult for the St Ayles coastal rowing boats to launch off the beach. Topher Dawson of Scottish Coastal Rowing, one of the Chief Umpires of SkiffieWorlds 2025, said: 'We are obviously very disappointed to miss scheduled racing, but safety comes first and we are rescheduling all the categories of racing across the rest of the week when the weather forecast is excellent. 'This is the biggest ever skiff event, and due to the size of it, rearranging the schedule is like a gigantic three dimensional jigsaw puzzle so that people don't have to race too many times in one day. 'Accepting that the weather is unpredictable is part of coastal rowing, and you just have to take it as it comes.' Stranraer is hosting the largest gathering of St Ayles coastal rowing boats in history, with a record-breaking 79 clubs competing. The coastal rowing event takes place from 6-12 July with 2,000 rowers competing with teams travelling from as far as Australia, USA, Canada, and South Africa, alongside several teams from the Netherlands and a strong contingent from across the UK and Ireland. Follow the action as and when it happens here on the Facebook page. Photo Colin Tennant Photo Colin Tennant Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Thousands of rowers heading to Dumfries and Galloway for SkiffieWorlds 2025
A record 79 entries have been received for the triennial world championship event, which is returning to Stranraer after a successful debut in 2019. Thousands of rowers are heading to Dumfries and Galloway for the SkiffieWorlds 2025. A record 79 entries have been received for the triennial world championship event, which is returning to Stranraer after a successful debut in 2019. And it is set to be the largest ever gathering of St Ayles skiffs, with more than 2,000 rowers expected to compete between July 6 and 12. Trustee of Stranraer Water Sports Association, Wendi Cuffe, said: 'We are thrilled with the interest in SkiffieWorlds 2025. To be hosting the largest ever gathering of St Ayles skiffs is testament to both the growing popularity of coastal rowing worldwide and Stranraer's growing reputation as an exceptional venue for water sports events. 'Teams from across four continents will be arriving in our town this July, with rowers travelling from as far as Australia, USA, Canada, and South Africa, alongside several teams from the Netherlands and a strong contingent from across the UK and Ireland. 'The response has exceeded all our expectations and reinforces Stranraer's position as a premier destination for major water sports events. We look forward to welcoming competitors and spectators alike to what promises to be an extraordinary celebration of coastal rowing.' The St Ayles skiff is a four-oared rowing boat with a cox, designed to be built by the communities that race them. Topher Dawson of Scottish Coastal Rowing, said: 'The St Ayles skiff movement began in Scotland 15 years ago with the aim of reconnecting communities with their coastal heritage through boat building and rowing. To see it grow into a global phenomenon with the largest ever gathering taking place in Stranraer is remarkable. 'What makes Stranraer such a perfect venue is the combination of Loch Ryan's sheltered waters and the town's exceptional hospitality. The long beach is a perfect place for the colourful club gazebos and launching skiffs, and the quiet traffic free promenade backed by Agnew Park allows easy access to the town. Skiff rowers were delighted in 2019 by the warm welcome from Stranraer residents. 'After the outstanding success of SkiffieWorlds 2019, rowers from around the world have been eager to return. The record number of entries for 2025 speaks volumes about Stranraer's standing within the international coastal rowing community.' The championship will be spectator friendly, with excellent viewing opportunities along the waterfront, big screens and professional commentary. There will also be a shoreside festival in Agnew Park including live music, family activities, an artisan market, theatre performances, a wellbeing hub, nature-based activities and circus workshops. SkiffieWorlds 2025 is hosted by Stranraer Water Sports Association on behalf of St Ayles Skiff International. It is supported by funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council, EventScotland, South of Scotland Enterprise, Kilgallioch Community Fund and The Galloway Association of Glasgow. The headline sponsor of the event is EcoGen.
