Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club’s second annual regatta

Following the success of the 2022 regatta – which brought back an event last recorded to have taken place on the loch in the 1850s – this year’s event featured five clubs from as far afield as Port Seton and Cockenzie in East Lothian, who joined members of the host club to compete in a series of 500-metre sprint races, as well as a longer 1500-metre event in St Ayles skiffs.

The programme for the day comprised five separate events – open men, open women, and three mixed categories – with the results in each event counting towards an overall points total for the day.

And while the conditions when racing started were beautifully calm, the competition, by contrast, was fierce, with several very tight races.

After three rounds, Troon had won the open men and Mixed 220+ events - the latter so called because the rowers’ combined ages must total more than 220 years - with the Royal Northern winning the open women’s race and the experienced Largs-based Firth of Clyde Coastal Rowing Club achieving two second places.

The Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club held its second coastal rowing regatta on September 9 (Photo: RNCYC)

That left the overall points tally finally poised with only three points separating the top three clubs.

After lunch, Troon won the mixed 240+ event and RNCYC the open mixed, so the results in other events became critical. Meanwhile, Firth of Clyde continued to field competitive crews, coming second in both events after lunch.

Whilst Troon emerged as the overall winners on the day, Firth of Clyde just pipped Royal Northern to second place by a single point.

A spokesperson for the RNCYC said: “We were pleased with our placing, and especially our wins in the open women’s and open mixed events in only our second full season as a club, competing against clubs with much more experience.”

The final race of the day was a scratch 1500m event in which,embracing the community spirit of coastal rowing, each boat was crewed by a mix of competitors from five different clubs.

The Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club held its second coastal rowing regatta on September 9 (Photo: RNCYC)

These crews were pulled out of a hat on the day so there was not a little trepidation on the start line as to how your crew would perform.

The event was around a buoyed course and there was plenty of jostling for the best water going around the marks.

Everyone enjoyed the race, and fortunately no equipment was damaged in the melee.

Throughout the day, copious quantities of tea, coffee and home baked cakes were consumed, raising over £300 to be split between the RNLI and club funds for equipment purchase and repair.

The RNCYC’s spokesperson added: “We are very grateful to the RNLI for the use of their slipway and to Boatfolk for the marina facilities, without which the event would not have been possible.”

The Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club held its second coastal rowing regatta on September 9 (Photo: RNCYC)

If you are interested in trying out coastal rowing, please contact the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club and they can arrange a taster row.

Call 01436 820322, email mail@rncyc.com or fill in the ‘contact us’ form at the club’s website (www.rncyc.com - scroll to the bottom of the home page) to find out more information.