Wormit Boating Club Makes Waves at SkiffieWorlds Championship in Stranraer
‘Wormit Takes on the World’ at spirited display of rowing, camaraderie, and community at triennial international regatta
Between the 6th and 12th of July, Stranraer was transformed into a vibrant epicentre of international rowing as it played host to the renowned SkiffieWorlds championship, this year making a welcome return having first been hosted by the Ayrshire town in 2019. The event drew an impressive crowd, with over 2,000 participants representing a record-breaking 79 clubs from across the globe, including those from Ireland, England and the Netherlands, and others from as far afield as Australia, South Africa, the USA and Canada, all taking part in this year’s championships. Among the competitors, Wormit Boating Club’s enthusiasm, sportsmanship and, not least, its impressive rowing achievements, was much in evidence. The Club also stood out, quite literally, at the colourful and slightly chaotic Sunday opening ceremony, with our teardrop banner held proudly aloft and highly visible just meters away from the stage accommodating the High Heid Yins from the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association and St Ayles Skiffs International – Jan really needs to address his self-confidence issues – as they welcomed the national contingents.
Wormit’s Rowers Rise to the Challenge
Wormit Boating Club’s comparatively modest contingent of 15 competitors came well-prepared, fielding crews in all events for which they had age-eligible rowers. Over the course of the championship, the Club participated in no fewer than 15 heats, pushing crews to the limits of endurance and teamwork. Their dedication paid off, as our rowers achieved a suite of notable finishes in their heats: one first place, five seconds, two thirds, two fifths, a sixth, and an eighth position. These results were hard-won in what were generally 15-boat heats, bristling with international talent and underscored the Club’s competitive spirit.
Making our Presence Felt
As a consequence of the determined campaigning in the heats, the Club qualified for no fewer than eight finals across a broad range of categories, including the 60+ Mixed, 50+ Women’s, 60+ Women’s, 50+ Mixed, 50+ Mixed, 60+ Mixed, 40+ Women, and Open Women. While not quite able to repeat the podium position wone by Wormit at the 2022 event, the fastest Wormit time posted overall came in the 60+ Mixed final, the doughty crew completing the two-kilometre course in an eye-watering and lung-busting 12:18.4 seconds. Not far behind, the 50+ Mixed crew clocked an impressive 12:41.8 seconds, with the 50+ Women’s crew hot on their heels at 13:02.4 seconds. Each of these performances was met with cheers and a very evident sense of pride from the Wormit supporters gathered along the shoreline.
Life Beyond the Lanes
Racing was only part of the SkiffieWorlds experience, with Wormit’s rowers embracing the festival atmosphere, many staying at local campsites or sharing a large and comfortable lodge a few miles away. Social activities abounded, including a vibrant daily programme of live music and entertainment at the main site and a waistline-endangering array of food on offer — with the coffee and cinnamon doughnut stand proving particularly popular. On more than one occasion the team found themselves wading through several bumper bagfulls of doughnuts, inadvertently donated simultaneously and generously by different team members. It is of course the case that what happens at SkiffieWorlds stays at SkiffieWorlds, so the identity of our top doughnut-muncher must remain cloaked in mystery. Let’s just say that this person goes by codename Juliet Sierra, and that his mum and dad, Mr and Mrs Sc**t, greatly enjoyed seeing J***y taking part in the fun. Oops. For those with energy to spare after the day’s racing, the Wednesday night ceilidh offered a further tempting opportunity to combine some energetic fun with a significant risk of personal injury.
Weathering the Elements
Skiffieworlds 2025 wasn’t without its off-course challenges. While most days were blessed with fine weather, a bout of wind and rain on the Sunday forced the cancellation of Monday’s programme, making Tuesday a fairly intense day for both competitors and organisers, briefings for the day starting at 7am and the racing not concluding until well after 8pm. Throughout the week, members of the Wormit contingent not only rowed but also volunteered as on-water umpires aboard a variety of vessels, helping to keep the regatta running smoothly. By midweek, the sun had made a welcome return, with the event reverting to its original schedule, prompting the slapping on of some Factor 30 and a concerted catching of rays between races. The summertime vibe was further enhanced with some suitably evocative DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince-style tuneage, courtesy of the team boogie box, while the Club gazebo serving as Mission Control Wormit attracted much attention thanks to its tasteful seaside décor and beady-eyed heron mascot.
Capturing the Action
A highlight of this year’s championship was the stunning overhead drone footage, broadcast live on giant screens and interspersed with real-time tracking from the boats. This transformed the grassy mound — affectionately dubbed “Helen’s Hill” by the Wormit team — into a lively spectator hub, where our presence was both seen and heard – the Club’s reputation for friendly rivalry and support for other competitors was on full display, with members forging connections and sharing laughs with fellow skiffies from around the world.
The Final Reckoning
In the end, it was Ireland’s Dundrum that topped the leaderboard, taking home six golds and accumulating 480 points, while the Eastern crews (scoring 476 points) also frequently graced the podium. However, when it came to spirit and community, vim, vigour and of course visibility, Wormit Boating Club undoubtedly left a lasting mark, posting a creditable 427 points overall and giving a ranking of 23rd, sharing the honours with Firth of Clyde and finishing in the top third of the table. Time and again, one question echoed around the site: “Where did Wormit come from?” The answer, delivered with pride, was clear: “We’re from Fife and we’re taking on the World!”