Berneray Coastal Rowing Club
Berneray has its very own community boat, Bàta Brèagha, built by and for local people to row together.
In 2014 we joined the rising tide of boatbuilding and rowing in Scottish coastal communities through The Scottish Coastal Rowing Project, set up by the Scottish Fisheries Museum in 2009 to revive coastal regattas. They commissioned world-class boat designer Ian Oughtred to design a lightweight skiff that could easily be built from an affordable kit. Based on the Fair Isle skiff, the boats are traditionally clinker-built from marine ply for four rowers and a cox. Hundreds of skiffs have been built in Scotland and in other parts of the world since.
In 2014 we joined the rising tide of boatbuilding and rowing in Scottish coastal communities through The Scottish Coastal Rowing Project, set up by the Scottish Fisheries Museum in 2009 to revive coastal regattas. They commissioned world-class boat designer Ian Oughtred to design a lightweight skiff that could easily be built from an affordable kit. Based on the Fair Isle skiff, the boats are traditionally clinker-built from marine ply for four rowers and a cox. Hundreds of skiffs have been built in Scotland and in other parts of the world since.
A tangle of ropes
Our skiff was built in a Nissen hut by a local team headed up by a couple of skilled joiners, with everyone contributing in different ways and joining in with the sanding and painting. We proudly launched Bàta Brèagha (bonnie boat) on a perfect summer’s day during Berneray week 2017. Pictured here are the core team, untangling from a host of ropes to get out of the harbour!
We keep the skiff at the Otternish slip for easy launching and enjoy plenty of relaxed rowing in the summer months and on calm winter days. If you are visiting and would like to join us for a row – please get in touch.
The first St Ayles Skiff World Championships were held in Ullapool in 2013 and happen every three years but there are lots of smaller regattas. We have participated in several in the Hebrides – in Harris, Lewis and South Uist – and we look forward to going to many more and hope to eventually host a Berneray Regatta.
We keep the skiff at the Otternish slip for easy launching and enjoy plenty of relaxed rowing in the summer months and on calm winter days. If you are visiting and would like to join us for a row – please get in touch.
The first St Ayles Skiff World Championships were held in Ullapool in 2013 and happen every three years but there are lots of smaller regattas. We have participated in several in the Hebrides – in Harris, Lewis and South Uist – and we look forward to going to many more and hope to eventually host a Berneray Regatta.
The core team
We’ve had generous support from Séolamaid/Berneray Boat Club who gave the proceeds from the sale of Sealladh to get us started, as well as from the Comhairle Ward Discretionary Fund, The Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation and Uist and Barra Sports' Council.
Do keep an eye on our Facebook page to see what we are doing:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Geòla-Bheàrnaraigh-Berneray-Coastal-Rowing/433496226799693
If you'd like to come rowing or just support the club, please join us. Membership of Berneray Coastal Rowing Club is open to everyone. Annual membership costs just £10 and the membership form is available to download here. Or contact the secretary Viv Halcrow: viv.halcrow@btopenworld.com
We look forward to having you on board!
Kirsty O'Connor (Convenor)
kirstyoconnor@phonecoop.coop
Do keep an eye on our Facebook page to see what we are doing:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Geòla-Bheàrnaraigh-Berneray-Coastal-Rowing/433496226799693
If you'd like to come rowing or just support the club, please join us. Membership of Berneray Coastal Rowing Club is open to everyone. Annual membership costs just £10 and the membership form is available to download here. Or contact the secretary Viv Halcrow: viv.halcrow@btopenworld.com
We look forward to having you on board!
Kirsty O'Connor (Convenor)
kirstyoconnor@phonecoop.coop
