Scottish Coastal Rowing Project & St Ayles Skiffs

Slightly off subject as I'm going to talk about coastal rowing, not canal business, but as we're all boaty people....
I am trying to get together a group of people interested in building & rowing a St Ayles Skiff, as part of the Scottish Coastal Rowing project- you may recently have seen articles on TV & news about the project-
Nearby places such as Ullapool & Achiltibuie have already got boats in the water & have even recently hosted a regatta, and there are upwards of 40 other boats either being built or up & running. The idea is that the boats are sold in kit form, so relatively easy to put together, and with an emphasis on team work, community spirit & enthusiasm- no specialist skills are required (though always useful!).
Once the boat is built & in the water ; there are now numerous rowing events happening around the coast, including participation in the Portsoy boat festival, as well as regular rowing sessions locally if that's what the participants want- for fun or for practice to hone your rowing skill & win races!
I have rowed in the Ullapool skiff myself a lot, and it is great fun, a great way to meet new people, get fit and inevitably involves post-rowing pub meets too. If you'd like to find out more, do a search on 'Scottish Coastal Rowing Project', Jordan Boats, or come & see me on Raingoose at Dochgarroch.......... Julie

GGCUA & British Waterways Summer Quiz and BBQ Saturday 30 July 2011

A fun evening is being planned for Saturday 30 July at Dochgarroch Hall, just by Dochgarroch Lock, which we hope you will be able to join us for.

Starting at 6.30pm the GGCUA BBQs will be hot and available, ready for BBQ time. Please bring your own food to cook on them and your drinks for the evening.

From approx 7.30pm there will be a Quiz night inside the hall. Price for entering the quiz will be £2 per head (under 14s free), don’t worry if you haven’t enough people for a team as you can make up one on the night with other Association members or British Waterways staff.

The quiz will consist of approx 10 rounds covering a variety of subjects, something for everyone.

We look forward to seeing you on the night

Veggie Kebab Making for the Danish Ocean Cruising Association BBQ

The veggie kebab making team and the fruit of their labour.

Here are a few pictures I have uploaded of the events held on Monday evening to welcome the Danish Ocean Cruising Association.

It's the first time I've tried an album link so fingers crossed this works. Let me know if there are any issues.



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Sue

LATEST NEWS FROM GGCUA

The Danish Ocean Cruising Association

"Halo, Failte gu Alba"

Hello, and a BIG WELCOME TO SCOTLAND was given to the Danish Ocean Cruising Association on who arrived over this weekend at the Seaport Marina, Inverness.

The main event which began on Monday with a civic reception at Inverness Town House was followed by an evenings entertainment back at the Seaport. Wonderful live music from members of the Ceilidh Trail, a whisky tasting (many tastings) and cooperage display from the Glenfiddich Distillery, a marvellous performance by the newly formed Danish Ocean Cruising Association Choir and a very fine barbeque organised by GGCUA.

WHAT A NIGHT! If you were there, you'll know exactly what I mean. If you were not, you missed a treat!

A MASSIVE THANK YOU to GGCUA volunteers who gave their time, enthusiasm and energy to the barbeque preparation and delivery. Without YOU, it would not have been the great success it was! 150 people fed and 150 people very satisfied! Hope you've recovered!!

We will post a selection of photographs from the event shortly. If you have any to add, please do so, we'd love to see them.

Many, many thanks.

David Bird

Chair of GGCUA.

Could be a fun day out......

The Rotary club of Inverness Culloden are holding a Boat Festival on Saturday 25 June at Inverness Marina.

For more details of the day go to www.invernessboatfestival.co.uk

Volunteers Needed - 4 July 2011

On 4th July 40 yachts from the Danish Ocean Cruising Association are due to arrive at Seaport Marina*.

To mark the occasion British Waterways are planning a welcome event for that evening which will include live music and they have asked the GGCUA to organise a BBQ. This is currently being arranged and we are now looking for volunteers who are able to spare a few hours to help prepare, cook and serve food on the day.

The 2 main time frames are:

- 5pm – 7.30pm for preparing the food e.g. cutting salad items, preparing vegetable kebab, slicing buns etc.
- 7.30pm - 9.30pm for cooking and serving the food.

In addition to the 120 crew from the Danish boats and members of both British Waterways and GGCUA, the Danish consulate and local councillors have been invited. Media coverage is also being planned.

If you would like to volunteer to help out for this event please contact GGCUA either by email (ggcua2003@yahoo.co.uk) or phone Dave Bird (Chairperson) on 07986 282184 for further details.

It’s promising to be a fun evening with a chance to meet and chat with some of our European counterparts.

*Weather permitting, the event may be changed to the 5th July if the weather prevents them from arriving on the 4th.