Latest news with #LochRyan
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Fin and Foil: Wind sports championship heading back to Stranraer
The waters near a south of Scotland town are to host a major sports competition for the second time in a matter of Scottish Fin and Foil Championships is the latest event to descend on Stranraer with 80 to 100 windsurfers and wing foilers expected to take comes after the international SkiffieWorlds saw thousands compete in community-built boat racing on Loch latest three-day event - which starts on 8 August - took place in Stranraer last year too. Fin and Foil, now in its third year, will see "the UK's finest windsurfers, wing foilers, hydrofoil sailors and their coaches" converge on Stranraer. Competitors will take part in four days of training followed by three days of high-speed racing across multiple event is being supported by Stranraer Water Sports Association. Kevin Packer of the group said the association was "thrilled" to welcome a "world-class water sports event" to Loch Ryan."The Scottish Fin and Foil Championships offer spectators a completely different experience to SkiffieWorlds but an equally enjoyable one," he said."The sight of these colourful sails and lightning-fast hydrofoils racing across our beautiful loch is spectacular."Danny Hawthorn, who chairs Scottish Fin and Foil, said Loch Ryan offered a "perfect combination" of conditions like reliable wind, sheltered waters and excellent shore estimated 50 to 60 volunteers are expected to be involved supporting both land and water-based operations. Organisers said traditional windsurfing classes were available for the local community to try the competition showcases wider efforts to boost Stranraer's transformation into a major water sports started earlier this year on a water sports hub in the town and it is scheduled to open next summer.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Coastal rowing races find their 'ideal location' in Stranraer
The south-west of Scotland has been hailed as the "ideal location" for coastal rowing after hosting a major from round the world were in Stranraer to race on Loch Ryan in the SkiffieWorlds which drew to a close on Ireland's Dundrum Coastal Rowing Club successfully defended their Berends, who chairs St Ayles Skiff International, said the "whole package" had come together at the Scottish event. The St Ayles skiff is a 22-foot (6.7m) fixed-seat rowing boat and is usually built by the community that rows championships take place every three years and were last held in Stranraer in 2019."As a blueprint for SkiffieWorlds I'd say Stranraer is the ideal location," said Mr Berends."It runs very smoothly, the volunteers and the community are tremendous, and it all comes together to create an event that is ideal."Even with the challenging weather at the start of the event, we were able to reschedule easily because of the scale of the water." Teams travelled from Australia, USA, Canada, South Africa and the Netherlands to compete with teams from across the UK and Cuffe, trustee of organisers Stranraer Water Sports Association (SWSA) said: "It's been amazing. I'm in absolute awe that these people have come from so far to fill our beach and to race on Loch Ryan."It's been absolutely fantastic." The SkiffieWorlds is part of wider efforts to promote the area as a water sports has started on a £6.7m hub in Stranraer, which it is hoped can open next next major event to be hosted by the SWSA will be the Scottish Fin and Foil Championships from 8 to 10 August.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
SkiffieWorlds 2025: High winds hit Stranraer championships
A full day of events in a world rowing championships has been postponed over safety concerns due to high 2025 started on Sunday on Loch Ryan, Stranraer, and involves more than 2,000 rowers and dozens of community-built St Ayles class west winds gusting to about 40mph have been forecast for the race said they hoped to resume the competition on Tuesday, with cancelled events rescheduled for later this week. A record-breaking 79 clubs from as far afield as Australia, South Africa, the USA and Canada are taking part in this year's championships. Organisers said eight mile-long (13km) Loch Ryan was sheltered from most wind directions, but northerly winds blew directly down the sea umpire Topher Dawson said scrapping Monday's events was disappointing, but safety came said: "This is the biggest ever skiff event and, due to the size of it, rearranging the schedule is like a gigantic three dimensional jigsaw puzzle so that people don't have to race too many times in one day."Accepting that the weather is unpredictable is part of coastal rowing, and you just have to take it as it comes." Mr Dawson said the postponement had not spoiled the said: "The atmosphere at SkiffieWorlds remains really positive."Everyone is happy to enjoy the sunshine and to meet fellow rowers from different countries - it's like being amongst 2,000 friends." The St Ayles skiff is a 22-foot (6.7m) fixed-seat rowing boat is typically built by the community that rows championships take place every three it was held in Stranraer in 2019, the SkiffieWorlds attracted about 30,000 visitors to the town and generated up to £4m for the local year's championship also showcases wider efforts to boost Stranraer's transformation into a major water sports started earlier this year on a water sports hub in the town and it is scheduled to open next summer.
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
International rowers descend on Stranraer for SkiffieWorlds
More than 2,000 rowers from around the globe are expected in south west Scotland for the SkiffieWorlds world championships for the St Ayles class coastal rowing boats is taking place on Loch Ryan, near Stranraer, from Sunday for seven days.A record-breaking 79 clubs from as far afield as Australia, South Africa, the USA and Canada are set to make it the biggest ever gathering of the colourful community-built begin with an opening ceremony before the competition and an on-shore festival get under way. The SkiffieWorlds attracted about 30,000 visitors when they were previously held in Stranraer in 2019 and are estimated to have generated up to £4m for the local is is hoped the 2025 edition will surpass those event is the world championship for the St Ayles class of coastal rowing boat and takes place every three St Ayles skiff is a 22-foot (6.7m) fixed-seat rowing boat designed specifically for community building and coastal rowing. Each boat is typically built by the community that rows it. Wendi Cuffe, trustee of Stranraer Water Sports Association (SWSA), said: "SkiffieWorlds is a world championship rowing event, but it's about so much more than competition."It's a celebration of community, connection, active participation and coastal heritage."The shoreside festival programme reflects everything that makes this sport special, from the international friendships forged through shared love of the water to the wellbeing benefits that keep people coming back to rowing."The championships will see more than 100 races across a number of age screens will show live drone footage with commentary for spectators on the shore. Stranraer water sports hub The youngest competitor is 14, while the oldest is thought to be Edser, head of EventScotland, said it was delighted to support the event which could encourage economic growth and bring physical, mental and social competition showcases wider efforts to boost Stranraer's transformation into a major water sports started earlier this year on a water sports hub in the town and it is scheduled to open next summer.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gourock rowers set to compete in the Skiffie World Championships
HARD-WORKING rowers from Gourock are getting ready for launch as they prepare to take on teams from around the world in an international championship. The Royal Gourock Yacht Club's coastal rowing team are travelling to Stranraer next weekend to compete in the week-long Skiffie World Championships. Advertisement Up to 20 members will be competing against 78 teams from all around the world, with rowers coming from as far as Australia and South Africa to the Scottish town. The Royal Gourock Yacht Club's coastal rowers (Image: Alex Craig) Competitors will take part in 2km out-and-back races on a multi-lane course on Loch Ryan in what is known as a St Ayles Class coastal rowing boat. Representing the club in each race will be four rowers, all led by a cox, who steers the boat. Three years ago, five RGYC rowers travelled to the Netherlands to take part in the event. This year the club are entering mixed and female teams in the over 40s, 50s and 60s categories, as well as a team in the 280+ event, which requires the total ages of the four rowers to add up to 280 years or more. Advertisement One of the club's conveners, Justine Campbell, has been rowing with the club since the team started in 2021, and says the group is more than just a way to keep fit but a great way to make new friends. Justine told the Tele: 'Before the pandemic a group of people looked into the possibility of getting a skiffie to start the club. They got one of the boasts professionally built in Irvine, which some members helped make, but our second skiffie was built by members themselves. 'We have really come a long way, and we continue to attract new members because a lot of people see us rowing up and down the Gourock shores. 'It is a great way of keeping fit and it's all outdoors in the fresh air. It is also a good social activity.' Advertisement The event is the culmination of months of practice dating back to January. Justine added: 'The course is 2km, so it's a reasonable distance, but we have done much longer races and intense training to get ready for this. 'Some people are taking part in three or four events, so they have been training a lot recently. 'When we have been looking at our results from training, it should take our teams less than 13 minutes and some other teams about 16 minutes. 'We have got a turn in the course as well so that has been a key part of the course to focus on. 'The conditions have been quite lumpy for practice; the water has been pretty hard going, so we know it is not ideal, but the race is in Stranraer so there could be quite a northerly wind that we are up against.' Advertisement The week-long event begins on Sunday, July 6. Those who are interested in joining the Royal Gourock Costal Rowing Club should contact rgyccoastalrowing@ to find out more about training days and social rows.
