Another piece of boatbuilding history was made at Fairlie on Sunday when the Firth of Clyde Coastal Rowing Club launched their new skiff.

The ceremony, watched by a large number of villagers, club members and supporters, was made especially significant as guest for the day was a descendent of the Fife family, who built word renowned yachts in the village in the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries.

May Fife McCallum, whose grandmother was cousin of the third William Fife, named the 22ft boat “Thistle” and, in a traditional gesture, poured whisky over the bow to “christen” the vessel.

She told the assembled onlookers she was very pleased to have been invited to perform the launch ceremony, especially as it marked the preservation of two important skills in the village — boatbuilding and rowing — which were in danger of fast disappearing.

May, author of “Fast and Bonnie, A History of William Fife and Son, Yachtbuilders” was born and bred in the village and said she vaguely recalled as a child when the bay was filled with boats.

She told the News: “I am delighted to have been asked to launch Thistle today — as it maintains Fairlie’s long and proud tradition of boatbuilding.” Club chairman Alan Cowan told the onlookers that Thistle was the club’s second skiff, and her name and colours had been chosen by pupils of Fairlie Primary School. The first boat, Saltire, had been launched in 2013. May’s attendance, he said, had provided a link with the historic Fife yachtbuilders and, in fact, the company had build a similarly sized boat, also called Thistle, in 1922.

Alan thanked Simon Cormack of Fairlie Boatbuilders, who provided the facility for the club members to build the boat, and went on to list several companies, organisations and individuals who had provided invaluable help.

This included Magnox who had provided financial support.

The day had begun earlier when the vessel, led by piper Eddy Van Kaathoven, was ceremoniously towed along Bay Street with a large number of villagers, club members and supporters following behind.

Also present on the day were rowers from clubs at Troon, Carrick, Royal West from Greenock and Millport. The island rowers came over specially on their boat, Cumbrae.

After the launch ceremony, Thistle was taken to the water and a team took her out for a celebratory row.