The
East Coast Rowing Council is the regional organisation of the
Irish Coastal Rowing Federation on
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
's East coast, representing the sport of
Coastal and ocean rowingCoastal and ocean rowing is a type of rowing performed at sea. Due to the harsher conditions encountered, the boats are wider and more robust than those used on rivers and lakes.-International Competition:...
. As per local tradition, coastal rowing is undertaken by crews of four with one sweep oar each, and a coxwain, in wooden clinker-built boats. Formed in 1936, the ECRC has the task of formalising the rules, organising regatta dates and judging any disputes between members .
The
East Coast Rowing Council is the regional organisation of the
Irish Coastal Rowing Federation on
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
's East coast, representing the sport of
Coastal and ocean rowingCoastal and ocean rowing is a type of rowing performed at sea. Due to the harsher conditions encountered, the boats are wider and more robust than those used on rivers and lakes.-International Competition:...
. As per local tradition, coastal rowing is undertaken by crews of four with one sweep oar each, and a coxwain, in wooden clinker-built boats. Formed in 1936, the ECRC has the task of formalising the rules, organising regatta dates and judging any disputes between members . Rules were laid down as to sizes and weights of skiffs to make races fairer. The ECRC represents clubs in the counties of
DublinDublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath ; the English name comes from the Irish Dubh Linn meaning "black pool". It is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the...
and
WicklowWicklow is the county seat of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of the capital Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census....
.
East Coast Tradition
Clinker skiff type boats were once one of the most numerous type of working boats found along the eastern seaboard of Ireland. They were recorded in 1874 by historian E.W. Holdsworth, where he noted that ‘The smaller boats employed for the line-fishery are of the same style as the Norway yawl, sharp at both ends.’.
Skiff racing has its origins in the occupation of hobbling. Hobblers were freelance pilots, and competition was strong to be the first to board the approaching ships. Not only did the successful hobblers receive payment to pilot the ships into port but they were also awarded the contract for discharging/loading those ships whilst in port.
The skiffs worked mainly between Lambay Island just north of Dublin Bay and Wicklow Head where they required considerable skill on behalf of the oarsmen. The long tradition of rowing is now carried on through the rowing clubs affiliated to East Coast Rowing Council. These clubs can be found around the old Dublin pilot stations of Ringsend & East Wall in Dublin Port, Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey, Bray, Greystones, Wicklow and Arklow.
Member Clubs
The current members of the ECRC are:
Racing
Each year the ECRC organises a summer schedule of regattas at clubs from Ringsend to Arklow where crews of all ages compete during the regatta. ECRC clubs also regularly compete in the bi-annual ‘
Celtic ChallengeThe Celtic Challenge Rowing Race is a gruelling 96 mile rowing race from Arklow in Ireland to Aberystwyth in Wales. It's a bi-annual event which usually takes place on the first Saturday in May. Crews from Wales, Ireland, England and as far afield as Germany compete in this event.The race is open...
’, a race of over 90 miles from Arklow to Aberystwyth in Wales as well as other long distance races such as the annual Ocean to City race in Cork, or the Kish lighthouse row in Dublin. Clubs can be regularly seen training at sea along the East Coast between April and September each year. Present day racing skiffs reflect their traditional origins, and are twenty-five foot long, clinker built, double-enders.
2009 Regatta Dates
The dates for the 2009 ECRC affiliated clubs are:
| Host |
Location |
Date |
| Stella Maris R.C. |
Ringsend |
24th May |
| Dalkey - home regatta cancelled for 2009. ECRC Invitational to be held on this date instead (link is to flyer for previous date) |
Sandycove Hbr |
14th June |
| Arklow R.C. |
Arklow |
21st June |
| St. Patrick's R.C. |
Ringsend |
28th June |
| St. Michael's R.C. |
West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr. |
12th July |
| Bray R.C. |
Bray |
26th July |
| Greystones R.C. |
Greystones South Beach (rescheduled from 7th June, relocated from Wicklow Town) |
1st August (Saturday) |
| Wicklow R.C. |
Wicklow Town |
3rd August (Monday) |