Representatives from the diocese were among those making waves at Stranraer in July as they took part in SkiffieWorlds 2025, the World Championships of the St Ayles Class of coastal rowing boat – with everyone declaring the event oarsome.
The Rev Harriet Johnston, Priest-in-Charge at Holy Trinity, Kilmarnock, and Diocesan Architect Rebecca Cadie were among more than 2,000 rowers taking part in the week-long event on Loch Ryan, while the Rev Dr Elizabeth Breakey, Priest in Charge at St Ninian’s, Portpatrick and St John’s, Stranraer, opened the church doors at St John’s to offer hospitality and support to visitors and participants.
The global SkiffieWorlds championship saw crews from around the world compete, connect, and celebrate the unique sport of St Ayles skiff coastal rowing. Crews of all ages competed in an out-and-back 2k sprint on a multi-lane course on the loch with each skiff holding four rowers and a cox and up to 15 skiffs were racing at any one time.
Harriet rowed for Troon Coastal Rowing Club in the very first race of the competition on the Tuesday morning and they came 5th. “The wind that had delayed the start of the championships was just dying down at 8.20am so it was quite bumpy but a lot of fun,” she commented. “The world championships was a great event, very well organised, with a fantastic community atmosphere. It was wonderful to be part of it.”
Rebecca, a member of Carrick Coastal Rowing Club, was one of five club rowers taking part in various classes across the week as part of Ailsa Coastal Rowing Group crews. “Every race was fiercely fought with seconds between finishers,” she said. “I rowed on Wednesday and we had great racing conditions.”
More than 2,000 rowers from around the globe gathered for the event, which last took place in Stranraer in 2019, and is held every three years. A record-breaking 78 clubs from as far afield as Australia, South Africa, the USA and Canada made it the biggest ever gathering of the community-built boats.
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. The event brings people together, highlighting the sense of community and connection that lies at the heart of coastal rowing, reflected in the championship races and the numerous family-friendly activities that take place alongside it.
Over the past three years, the Charge of St John’s Stranraer has offered a ministry of hospitality, providing rest and relief to people visiting the town for festivals and key sporting events, so they were well-placed to be a calming presence at this year’s SkiffieWorlds. “Each year, we develop the ministry a little more, learning what works and what does not work so well,” said Elizabeth.
“Our primary strength is our hospitality, but it might not be quite what others would boast about. For, of course, we have excellent home baking, but we also have rather good loos! We know, because the many people who visited us for a spot of relief tell us so.”
Many years ago, the Vestry, realising that the average age of the congregation was increasing, decided to install a lift to enable less able members to worship in the upstairs church. This allows the church today to happily welcome folk to accessible toilets, baby change table and reportedly fragrant facilities.
“Stranraer welcomed thousands of visitors to enjoy the World Skiffie championships from July 6th to 12th,” said Elizabeth. “The international crews in their wooden skiffie rowboats raced on the calm waters of Loch Ryan, before speedily turning round and dashing back towards the beach in the sunshine. Just watching was hot work.
“St John’s popped a garden bench in a shady spot near their fire exit for the visitors to have a ‘wee sit’ on the hot walk from the campsite to the competition area. We took turns to sit in the shade and engaged with a remarkably wide range of people over the sunny weekend. It was a gentle and fun ministry.”
The Rower’s Rest bench has sparked a new idea to connect with the surrounding community: the vestry is discussing with the local council the possibility of sponsoring a more robust bench in the same spot, allowing locals and visitors to rest awhile, as they walk around Stranraer, rather than relying on their cars for short journeys.
In the competition Northern Ireland’s Dundrum Coastal Rowing Club successfully defended their world championship title with Eastern Amateur Coastal Rowing Club from Edinburgh runners-up. Dundrum’s rowers took gold in eight of the 24 classes, as well as two silvers and five bronze, while Eastern secured two golds, eight silvers and two bronze.
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