It had been a nail-biting few days leading up to one of the highlights of the WBC&WH Skiffie calendar, the ever-popular Perth to Wormit Row – P2WR - with an anticipated brisk easterly breeze threatening to impose a delay to proceedings. By Thursday afternoon it was clear that Saturday was a non-starter, and the decision was made to postpone the event by 24 hours - well 25 actually, to take account of the tide - the forecast looking a lot more favourable on Sunday.  This would be the first time in the event’s illustrious history that a fallback date had been activated, and initial optimism that the extent of any replanning would essentially be limited to crossing out the ‘5’ and inserting a ‘6’ on the paperwork, plus adding an hour to all the tide times, inevitably collided with boring old reality.  Participating clubs, including  Wormit, hit the phones to see who could make the new date, scratched their heads over crew-change arrangements to get the right people to the right place at the right time, checked in with the Perth Harbour Authority and the ever-accommodating hosts at Perth Sailing Club – PSC - and, critically, confirmed that safety boat cover could still be made available on the Sunday.

All of that done, attention turned to the most important go/no go consideration of all; could Wormit’s now universally revered catering team deliver the goods a day later than originally planned?  Hopeful rowers crossed their fingers and held their breath as snippets of earnest conversation drifted from behind the closed galley door: was there enough clingfilm and/or Tupperware in Fife, who had fridge space to store the perishable provisions of a small army, would somebody lend their bath for all the soup to be stored and, if all else failed on the refrigeration front, could the fresh cream slices be re-purposed the next day as cheesy surprises?  Thankfully, the answer to all these crucial conundrums was a resounding ‘Yes’ (apart from the cheesy surprise re-purposing proposal, on reflection not a great idea), everybody climbed into their best, Positive-Mental-Attitude pants, plans were finalised, and it was All Systems Go for a super Sunday on the Silvery Tay.

So it was that on a promisingly calm and sunny April morning the lucky Leg 1 crews began gathering at PSC, eager to embark on a day of fun, fulfilment and, of course, food (see above). The cheerful company swiftly set about rigging their skiffs – most of which had been pre-positioned the evening before, and in one or two cases (you know who you are), unaccountably bedecking theirs with festive bunting and even mounting on the prow what appeared to be an imposingly fearful Nordic dragon figurehead, lovingly and painstakingly crafted by local artisans and causing one or two of the older observers to briefly and wistfully recall childhood favourite Noggin the Nog and his encounter with the Ice Dragon.  Simpler times (sniff).  Thus prepared, and with crews briefed on potential hazards ahead, the skiffs were gently eased down the grassy bank and into the river.  Two minutes ahead of schedule and in fine maritime tradition a toot on the Club’s race box hooter signalled the order to Slip and Proceed, with which the colourful flotilla, safety boats Vigilant and Patrol fussing to and fro, began its stately progress downstream.

The reassuringly benign conditions continued as skiffs headed past riverside meadows and stands of budding trees towards their first port of call at Newburgh, as advised steering clear of Mugdrum Island while making the most of the tugging insistence of the river’s flow.  Ashore at Newburgh, skiffs from North Queensferry and Elie & St Monans had arrived by road and were wisely launched by their crews ahead of the approaching armada, now appearing from behind the reeds as it made its way towards landfall.  This year mercifully spared the unwelcome attentions of swarming jet skis, a species that for some unfathomable reason is attracted to vessels of an altogether more wholesome and worthier mien (us, obvs), operations ran with seamless efficiency.  Crew changes were completed and skiffs set off on Leg 2 with generally excellent boat handling in evidence, though one or two coxes did find themselves, their crew and their skiff, uncomfortably close to the sea wall, finally making it into the main channel with paintwork unblemished and credibility intact – just.

The Newburgh launches and changeovers successfully completed, the focus now switched to the riverside hamlet of Balmerino, where Leg 3 crews began to gather and enjoy the April sunshine; meanwhile, those still heading downriver were finding the conditions more challenging than the forecast had led them to suspect.  Although by staying close to the southern shore coxes were able to find some shelter from the brisk easterly into which the boats were rowing, conditions nevertheless made for some testing rowing, especially for those intrepid crew planning on foregoing the stopover at Balmerino and continuing down to Woodhaven.

For crews that did come ashore at Balmerino, the rapidly falling tide and the correspondingly increasing expanse of pebbly foreshore presented a further obstacle to be overcome.  Beachmasters too were finding to their surprise that what had seemed a gently shelving shore concealed in its shallows some significantly deeper depressions into which the unwary might easily find themselves unwittingly descending.  Such was the case for one hapless beachmaster, who one moment was comfortably knee deep as, like some leisurewear-clad King Canute, he directed operations, and the next suddenly found everything from the chest down wetter than a fish’s brassiere as he waded back to dry(er) land.   Where is that shortie wetsuit (or, as a wry observer suggested, that Tena for Men undergarment) when you need it?

Mercifully such incidents were few, crews made it safely up the beach steps to the refuge of Balmerino’s grassy knoll and, as the final boats headed out into the river, the briefing that ‘On No Account’ should they turn downstream until at least 200 metres offshore still ringing in their ears.  Thanks to this message finding purchase in the minds of coxes, safety boat crews aboard Vigilant and Patrol avoided the task of recovering skiffs stranded on a rapidly enlarging Naughton Bank.  After a strong pull down past Jock’s Hole (stop sniggering at the back, it’s a local landmark) and across Wormit Bay, skiffies girded their loins for the final stretch, passing under the imposing ironwork of the iconic Tay Bridge and on towards their ultimate destination at Woodhaven and HQ WBC&WH, where skiffs were expertly brought ashore by a no-nonsense team of salty old seafarers, loaded onto the right trailers and towed up the slip behind the Club’s trusty Toro tractor.

All skiffs duly accounted for in true Brian Hanrahan-rahan style – “We counted them out and we counted them all back” (ask a parent or anybody over fifty), the company of rowers, helpers, organisers and some guy called Steve who happened to be walking past, retired to the Clubhouse for refreshments.  Here the near-legendary WBC&WH galley team, having successfully recovered from fridges, Tupperware containers and bathtubs the vast range of comestibles now on offer - plus bespoke designer pizzas, provided a splendid spread on which all gratefully descended with ravenous intent.  As had been the case since the first P2WR participants arrived at PSC many hours of endeavour earlier and twenty-odd miles away, the sun continued to shine and skiffies continued to demonstrate the friendly conviviality for which they are justly renowned, finding helpful things to do while exchanging tales of aching arms, bruised backsides, throbbing, er, thighs and adversity overcome in myriad, heroic ways.

Everyone agreed that it had been a thoroughly enjoyable day, fun-filled and with sufficient challenge to warrant a warm glow of achievement in all those taking part.  Thanks are due to everybody who contributed to another successful P2WR, whether rowing, coxing, directing operations ashore, shivering in a safety boat, cooking up something tasty, toiling in the galley, delivering crews and boats, providing parking, or simply offering their time, energy and commitment.  Particular thanks must go to Perth Sailing Club, without whose facilities and generous assistance the event literally could not begin.  Roll on P2WR26!

Dai

Dai John