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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.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
International rowers gather for SkiffieWorlds championship
The colourful boats at the SkiffieWorlds are generally community-built [Colin Hattersley] More than 2,000 rowers from around the globe are expected in south west Scotland for the SkiffieWorlds championship. The world championships for the St Ayles class coastal rowing boats is taking place on Loch Ryan, near Stranraer, from Sunday for seven days. Advertisement 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 boats. Events begin with an opening ceremony before the competition and an on-shore festival get under way. The event was last held in Stranraer six years ago [Saskia Coulson] 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 economy. But is is hoped the 2025 edition will surpass those figures. The event is the world championship for the St Ayles class of coastal rowing boat and takes place every three years. Advertisement The 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." Advertisement The championships will see more than 100 races across a number of age categories. Big 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 81. Rebecca Edser, head of EventScotland, said it was delighted to support the event which could encourage economic growth and bring physical, mental and social benefits. The competition showcases wider efforts to boost Stranraer's transformation into a major water sports destination. Work 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.
