Argyll coastal rowers honour new Glen Coe skiff

Coastal rowers from Seil, Appin and Loch Awe had an 'oarsome' time at the launch of Glen Coe's new skiff.

 

The three rowing clubs raised their oars on Loch Leven as Glen Coe Boat Club's Corrag, named after the witch of Glen Coe, took to the water .

 

"attachment_691055" "" "300"] Crews of the three visiting skiffs raise their oars in salute to the Corrag. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos

 

"attachment_691043" "" "300"] The Corrag is officially named and launched by Christina Southcott, wife of the builder who poured whisky over the bow. Photograph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos

 

The community skiff also got a special blessing from Lochaber parish priest Father Roddy Johnston.

 

Try-a-row sessions were a big hit with visitors who turned up on April 9 to share the celebration.

 

The Corrag project took four years and two months to complete; a boatshed had to be purchased and built first.

 

Retired submariner and former Glen Coe Boat Club commodore David Southcott spent hundreds of hours building the skiff from scratch, with help from club members.

 

He was at the launch with wife Christina, who carried out the official naming ceremony with a whisky toast.

 

David said: 'The first few months after Gordon MacIntyre initially suggested we build our own skiff were just too cold to make a start because it was in a January.

 

'Then, after we finally got going and largely had her finished, we were hit by lockdown so she spent another two years in the shed unpainted, waiting for this proud moment.

 

'When this year came we said let's go for it and make it happen - and with the help of volunteers we did just that.

 

'It's been wonderful to have so many people with us for the launch and to have the support of other coastal rowing clubs who spurred us on.'

 

Accomplished piper and wind instrumentalist Duncan MacKinnon from Killin, who is also a Glen Coe Boat Club member, was joined by well-known vocalist and accordionist John MacMillan on the music stage adding to the event's lively proceedings.

 

David said: 'A huge thank you to everyone who came to the launch and helped with Corrag's launch. I hope word will get round about her.

 

'We have four communities of Onich, Ballachulish, Tigh Phuirt and Kinlochleven - everyone is welcome to come and try it out. I hope it's going to be a big success with them all. I'm sure it will be.'

 

Corrag is a 16 foot St Ayles skiff, designed to be rowed by a team of four people with a cox to steer.