The Firth of Clyde Coastal Rowers were represented in the first ever Castle to Crane 13 mile rowing challenge last month, writes Melanie Grey.
Three skiffs and 15 crew have returned home filled with pride and race exhilaration after having taken part in the largest open water rowing event ever held in Scotland.
This event was organised by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association and Govan-based charity Galgael, and took place as part of the larger Clydebuilt Festival at Glasgow’s Riverside Museum.
After months of Castle to Crane build-up, 75 fixed seat rowing boats and 407 rowers and coxes from Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales, the Netherlands and the US launched from Dumbarton. In launch order, the Firth of Clyde rowers and other clubs lifted and carried the boats to the slipway within Sandpoint Marina in Dumbarton.
The race got underway at 10 o’clock with Galgael’s Orcuan, a 30ft long Birlinn (Gaelic longboat) leading the convoy. Amidst a colourful flotilla of skiffs and other rowing boats, Vennel, Saltire and Thistle took their turn and set off from the start point across the River Leven under the battlements of Dumbarton Castle a few minutes past 11. The weather was fair with a distinct lack of rain, and rowing with the flood of the tide made for good conditions to favour the fortitude and race pace of the three Clyde Coastal rowing crews. 
Our own Saltire was crewed by Robbie Graham, David Maclean, Lizzie Pratt and Jane Grant, coxed by Michael Donnachie. Largs’ second skiff Thistle was crewed by Andy Vost, Gary Watkins, Hugh Maclean and Melanie Grey, coxed by Ian Ward.
There was no shortage of iconic Glasgow landmarks along the 13 mile race stretch up the River Clyde from Dumbarton Castle to the famous Finnieston Crane, with the crews quickly passing under the Erskine Bridge. Encouraging shouts were heard from volunteers Doreen Mathie and Carron McKee before passing the Golden Jubilee Hospital and Titan Crane on the north bank and on past the BAE Systems Shipyard and into the city by the Science Centre and finally the Finnieston Crane.
The shouts and waves at the finish added to a glorious moment and the months of training in all weathers and scrambling of crews had all paid off. Thistle’s crew were delighted to come 2nd in their category, the St Ayles Skiff Men’s 50+, and 8th in the overall 50+, with Saltire and Vennel not far behind. A superb effort!
A massive thanks to everyone who contributed to the event and this includes all the support team who volunteered, cheered, towed, fixed, supplied, posted messages, came to watch, rowed and coxed. The club should be proud.
Further thanks to Cameron Hughes who worked tirelessly on the Castle to Crane committee, to new member Emma Davis who also volunteered at Clydebuilt Festival, to Alan Robertson and Daren Borzynski for their wonderful photographs, and finally to the Castle to Crane and Clydebuilt organisers for making the rowing dream come true. Bring on Castle to Crane 2018!
Fancy joining in for a challenge like this? Firth of Clyde Coastal rowers offer both social and competitive rowing out of Largs Yacht Haven and attend events across Scotland and beyond. Email: secretary.foccr@gmail.com or find them on Facebook and Twitter.