Skiff rowers on way

Skiff rowers on way

20 July 2016

THOUSANDS of people are expected the line the shores of Strangford Lough next week to watch some of the world’s top skiff rowers in action.

The Skiffie World international racing championship will take place from Monday-Saturday with over 40 rowing clubs from around the world battling it out on the famous lough.

Participants will come from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, the Netherlands and as far away as the USA and Australia. This is only the second major international rowing regatta for the St Alyes Skiffs rowing boats. Strangford Lough was selected by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association for this year’s competition not only because of its stunning natural beauty but also because of the success of the local community boat builds.

To date nine St Ayles skiffs have been built in communities along the Co. Down coast from Dundrum to Donaghadee, supported by Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership, the PSNI, and local councils as part of the EU Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.  

The boat build has brought together people from different walks of life for the building of the boats by hand to the painting, naming and formation of coastal rowing clubs which regularly take the boats out on the water.  Many started out strangers but became a team, with very many new friendships formed.

The Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership, the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association and the local clubs are looking forward to welcoming all the teams, not just rowers, but spectators and festival goers alike to Strangford Lough.  

The week of racing will be based off Delamont Park and in addition to the racing there is a programme of events being held in Delamont and the surrounding villages.

 The week will culminate in a spectacular closing ceremony when a flotilla of various rowing and sailing boats including a tall ship will be welcomed back to the villages of Portaferry and Strangford with a full day of festival activities in the villages for all on July 30. 

Parking is highly restricted in Strangford for this day and spectators and festival goers are asked to park in Portaferry and to use the ferry as pedestrians if travelling to Strangford.  Traffic from Strangford side are asked to use the free park and ride service operating from Castle Ward estate on the Strangford Road.