Skip to content

High winds hit Stranraer's SkiffieWorlds contest

Jamie Russell
BBC Scotland News
Kirstin McEwan A number of rowing boats are lined along the shore. They are all of different bright colours. A group of people are by the side of one of the boats.Kirstin McEwan
The event launched on Sunday with a record-breaking number of skiffy clubs in attendance

A full day of events in a world rowing championships has been postponed over safety concerns due to high winds.

SkiffieWorlds 2025 started on Sunday on Loch Ryan, Stranraer, and involves more than 2,000 rowers and dozens of community-built St Ayles class boats.

North west winds gusting to about 40mph have been forecast for the race area.

Organisers 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.

Colin Tennant CT Productions Topher is smiling as he looks into the camera. He is balding with grey hair around the sides of his head. He is wearing a bright, mustard-coloured hooded top over a grey shirt. Behind him is the sea. It is a sunny day.Colin Tennant CT Productions
Chief umpire Topher Dawson said unpredictable weather was part of coastal rowing

Organisers said eight mile-long (13km) Loch Ryan was sheltered from most wind directions, but northerly winds blew directly down the sea loch.

Chief umpire Topher Dawson said scrapping Monday's events was disappointing, but safety came first.

He 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."

Colin Tennant CT Productions Members of a pipe band standing outside at Straraer harbour. The drummers and pipers are standing in a circle as they preform a tune. A crowd, with some people holding flags of different countries, looks on. The sea and distant shore are in the background.Colin Tennant CT Productions
The championships started with an opening ceremony on Sunday

Mr Dawson said the postponement had not spoiled the competition.

He 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."

Kirstin McEwan A close up of the wooden hull of a rowing boat. It is painted blue, white and yellow. It has the name "Stranraer". Another boat is on the shore in the background.Kirstin McEwan
Teams from across the world are taking part in the largest competition of its kind

The St Ayles skiff is a 22-foot (6.7m) fixed-seat rowing boat.

Each boat is typically built by the community that rows it.

The championships take place every three years.

When 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 economy.

This year's championship also 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.

More on this story
Related internet links