Skiffing refers to the sporting and leisure activity of
rowingRowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
(or more correctly
scullingSculling refers to the use of oars to propel a boat or other watercraft, but the word is used in a number of ways:-Two-oar sculling:Sculling is a form of rowing in which a boat is propelled by one or more rowers, each of whom operates two oars, one held in each hand...
) a
Thames skiffA Thames skiff is a traditional River Thames wooden rowing boat used for the activity of Skiffing. These boats evolved from Thames wherries in the Victorian era to meet a passion for river exploration and leisure outings on the water.-Construction of a skiff:...
. A Thames skiff is a traditional hand built clinker-built wooden craft of a design which has been seen on the
River ThamesThe River Thames is a major river flowing through southern England. While best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows through several other towns and cities, including Oxford, Reading and Windsor....
and other waterways in England and other countries for nearly 200 years. Sculling means propelling the boat with a pair of oars (blades) as opposed to rowing which requires both hands on a single oar.
Skiffs
Thames skiffs were developed in the 19th century primarily for leisure use by private individuals sculling themselves. The design was based on the Thames
wherriesA wherry is type of boat that was traditionally used for carrying cargo or passengers on rivers and canals in England, and is particularly associated with the River Thames. Passenger wherries evolved into the Thames skiff, a gentleman's rowing boat...
and
shallopsA pleasure barge is a flat bottomed, slow moving boat used for leisure. It is contrasted with a standard barge, which is used to transport freight...
that were operated by
watermenWatermen are river workers who transfer passengers across and along city centre rivers and estuaries in Britain and its colonies. Most notable are those on the River Thames and River Medway, but other rivers such as the River Tyne and River Dee, Wales also had their watermen who formed guilds in...
as a water taxi service in London. By the late 19th century, when
Jerome K. JeromeJerome Klapka Jerome was an English writer and humorist, best known for the humorous travelogue Three Men in a Boat....
wrote of his up-river expedition in
Three Men in a BoatThree Men in a Boat , published in 1889, is a humorous account by Jerome K. Jerome of a boating holiday on the Thames between Kingston and Oxford....
, there were thousands of skiffs at places like
RichmondThe London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is a London borough in south west London, England, which forms part of Outer London.-Settlement:...
,
KingstonKingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in south-west London.It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross...
and
OxfordOxford is a city, and the county town of Oxfordshire, in South East England. The city has a population of just under 165,000, with 151,000 living within the district boundary. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through Oxford and meet south of the city centre...
. However there are references to skiffs (as a result of accidents) as early as 1812 and 1824 at Oxford. In August 1815, the poet
Percy Bysshe ShelleyPercy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets and is critically regarded among the finest lyric poets in the English language...
was taken on a skiffing expedition from
Old WindsorOld Windsor is a large village in the English county of Berkshire.-Location:Old Windsor is located just south of the town of Windsor and near to the villages of Englefield Green and Datchet...
to
LechladeLechlade is a town in Gloucestershire, England. It is located at the southern edge of the Cotswolds. It is the highest point at which the River Thames is navigable. The town is named after the River Leach which joins the Thames near here....
by Charles Clairmont and
Thomas Love PeacockThomas Love Peacock was an English satirist and author.Peacock was a close friend of Percy Bysshe Shelley and they influenced each other's work...
. He subsequently settled at
MarlowMarlow is a town and civil parish within Wycombe district in south Buckinghamshire, England. It is located on the River Thames, four miles south-south-west of High Wycombe, and four miles north west of Maidenhead.- History :The town name is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means 'land remaining after...
where he regularly skiffed through the locks.
Skiffs have fixed rather than sliding seats, and the blades are held in thole pins at the side of the boat rather than outriggers. The blades are made of wood with leather collars and traditional spoons. Pressure is applied by the feet against an adjustable wooden plate known as a "stretcher board". Skiffs are usually "Singles" with one sculler, or "Doubles" with two scullers (one behind the other) and a cox. However skiffs with more scullers or incorporating a sail are also used. Skiffing takes place in the Netherlands and Argentina, using the design of traditional Thames skiff although Argentinian skiffs usually have outriggers instead of tholes.
Skiffing technique
The skiff is designed for optimum performance and so the technique applied is important. The two fundamental reference points in the stroke are the
catch where the blade is placed in the water, and the 'finish' where the blade is removed from the water. The skiffer leans forward, and bends the legs slightly. After placing the blade vertically in the water at the
catch, he or she applies pressure to stretcher, levering the blade in the water on the thole and leans back. This is called the
drive phase of the stroke. Once the skiffer has pushed the blade as far forward in the water as possible, he or she
extracts the oar from the water, and the
recovery phase begins, setting up the skiffer's body for the next stroke. On the recovery, it is normal to tip the blade flat (known as "feathering"). There are some differences from the rowing stroke. The hands must never pass one above the other - one hand must always lead, or one of the blades will "dig" in the water. The seat does not slide and the unbending of the legs follows from the leaning back of the body. Finally skiffs are more stable so that it is possible to lean back further and keep the blade in the water for longer. The last extra distance provides considerable motive power to the boat, leading to the encouragement to "squeeze the finish".
Skiffing for pleasure
Skiffs have the advantage of being able to carry loads and are stable enough to allow occupants to stand up and move about while on the water. Skiffing is therefore an ideal introduction to rowing and river sports. Skiffing provides an opportunity for both short and extended recreational outings on the Thames and other waterways in Britain. The
Thames meanderThames meander refers to a long-distance journey over all or part of the River Thames in England. Walking the Thames Path is itself a meander, but the term usually applies to journeys using other methods such as rowing, running, or Swimming....
is an example of a long distance skiff journey. For more leisurely progress, a camping skiff has an easily erectable canvas cover and is used for outdoor recreational activity holidays. The Thames Traditional Boat Society is particularly active in supporting recreational use of tradional boats like skiffs. Skiffs regularly take part in traditional boat events, in particular the
Great River RaceThe Great River Race is an annual competition held on the River Thames for any traditional-style coxed boat propelled by oars or paddles.The competition was started in 1988 and covers a 22 mile course on the tidal Thames between Ham, London and Greenwich...
in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
.
Skiff racing
Skiff racing provides the challenge of competition and an incentive for physical fitness. A Thames racing skiff is a version of the Thames skiff designed for racing purposes although it is still used recreationally. Racing is in single skiffs or doubles, and unlike in rowing, there are competitions for crews of mixed doubles.
Skiff racing in the United Kingdom is governed by the
Skiff Racing AssociationThe Skiff Racing Association is the governing body in the United Kingdom for the sport of skiff racing. The SRA is affiliated to the Amateur Rowing Association...
, which was formed in 1901 to ensure that a standard set of rules was applied for racing and boat construction. The Association is run by a committee elected from the affiliated clubs and regattas, and is affiliated to the
Amateur Rowing AssociationBritish Rowing, formerly the Amateur Rowing Association , is the governing body in England for the sport of rowing. It is also responsible for the development and organisation of international rowing teams representing Great Britain...
(ARA). The rules of racing are based on those of the ARA closely enough that ARA qualified umpires may also
umpireA referee is a person who has authority to make decisions about play in many sports. Officials in various sports are known by a variety of titles, including: referee, umpire, judge, linesman, commissaire, timekeeper or touch judge.- Origin :The term referee originated in association football...
skiff races.
Competitions are held at a number of events on the River Thames between April and October. Events are competed at four status levels from Novice to Senior, allowing the opportunity to compete for anyone from complete beginners and Olympic rowing champions. There are two types of skiff race, long distance and regattas. In long distance processional events, crews set off at time intervals over a course of two or more miles. At regattas, skiff races are non-processional sprint races held over a distance of up to 800 yards with heats and finals. Regatta races usually have one skiff against another, although three lane racing may also occur. There are a number of Trophy competitions. The Ormiston Trophy is awarded to the Club that wins the highest number of events each season overall while the Inter-Club competition is a separate event for top scullers in each club.
Several Olympic rowers began their careers in skiffs, including
James CracknellJames Cracknell, OBE is a British rowing champion and double Olympic gold medalist and adventurer. Cracknell is married to TV and radio presenter Beverley Turner; they have two children: a son, Croyde , and a daughter, Kiki . In the New Year Honours List, 2004, he was appointed OBE for services to...
,
Elise LaverickElise Mary Laverick is a British rower. She won bronze at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the double scull with Sarah Winckless, and again at the 2008 Summer Olympics with Anna Bebington....
and Sarah Winckless. Many former British rowing team members continue to compete and exercise in skiffs.
Regattas
- Egham Regatta
Egham Regatta is a rowing regatta on the River Thames in England which takes place at the end of June on the reach above Bell Weir Lock near Egham, Surrey. The regatta is run from Wraysbury Skiff and Punting Club and the Runnymede Pleasure Grounds on the outskirts of Egham.The regatta was...
- Sunbury Amateur Regatta
The Sunbury Amateur Regatta is a regatta on the River Thames at Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England. It takes place at Rivermead Island, downstream of Sunbury Lock....
- Chertsey Regatta
Chertsey in Shepperton Regatta is a regatta on the River Thames in England which takes place on Dumsey Meadow near Chertsey, Surrey.The regatta was inaugurated in 1851 and is one of the oldest on the river. Early records are sparse but it is known that in two years the regatta was held upstream of...
- Hampton Court and Dittons Regatta
Hampton Court and Dittons Regatta is a regatta on the River Thames in England which takes place at Thames Ditton, Surrey beside Hampton Court Palace....
- Wraysbury and Old Windsor Regatta
- Walton Reach Regatta
- The Skiff Championships
The Skiff Championships Regatta is the premier skiff racing regatta on the River Thames in England. It is held at annually at Henley on the August Bank Holiday.-Events and course:...
(held at HenleyHenley-on-Thames is a town on the north side of the River Thames in south Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
)
- Individual Club regattas
Long Distance events
- Simon Mepham Long Distance Mixed Doubles
- DSPC Long Distance Singles
- Tiny and Nancy Knight Competition
- Mixed Doubles Marathon
- Wraysbury Long Distance Doubles
- Singles Marathon (Jack Rosewell Trophy)
- Doubles Marathon (Heldmann Trophy)
Skiff Clubs
There are several English skiff clubs on the Thames and one in Cambridge.
- The Skiff Club
The Skiff Club is the oldest skiff and punting club in existence, having been founded in 1895. It is based on the River Thames in England, on the Middlesex bank between Teddington Lock and Kingston upon Thames....
- Thames Valley Skiff Club
Thames Valley Skiff Club is an English skiff and punting club, which was founded in 1923. It is based on the River Thames in England, on the Surrey bank between Sunbury Lock and Walton on Thames....
- Wraysbury Skiff and Punting Club
Wraysbury Skiff and Punting Club is an English skiff and punting club, which was founded in 1931. It is based on the River Thames in England, on the Surrey bank between Bell Weir Lock and Runnymede....
- Dittons Skiff and Punting Club
Dittons Skiff and Punting Club or Dittons is an English skiff and punting club, which was founded in 1923. It is based on the River Thames with a club and boat house at Thames Ditton on the reach above Teddington Lock...
- Wargrave Boating Club
Wargrave Boating Club is an English water sports club. It is based on the River Thames in England, at Wargrave on the reach above Marsh Lock....
- Granta Skiff Club
All skiff clubs also include participation in the partner traditional river sport –
puntingThis article concentrates on the history and development of punts and punting in England, for other usages see Norfolk punt and the general disambiguation pages at punt and punter....
. Clubs also encourage youngsters to take part in skiffs and rowing dinghies.
Some clubs incorporate
dongola racingDongola racing is a popular event in traditional local regattas, especially on the River Thames in southern England and was first competed at Maidenhead in 1886. Competitors use wide punts and a team of people with single-bladed paddles, facing forwards and kneeling, normally with one leg up...
, dragon boat racing and
canoeingCanoeing is the activity of paddling a canoe for the purpose of recreation , sport, or transportation. It usually refers exclusively to using a paddle to propel a canoe with only human muscle power...
.
There are also rowing clubs in The Netherlands and Argentina that use Thames skiffs.
External links