A TEAM from North Queensferry Coastal Rowing Club will be competing against teams from Canada, England, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Tasmania, USA and Wales at the St Ayles Skiff World Championships (Skiffie Worlds) on Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, from July 25-30.

The club is based at the marina in the village and has two skiffs, St Margaret’s Hope and Ferry Sonnet. The crew consists of four rowers, each with a single oar, and a cox.

The St Ayles Skiff is 22 feet long, with a beam of 5ft 8in, and the name of the design comes from the former chapel which now forms the entrance to the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. The Scottish Coastal Rowing Association encourages boatbuilding, rowing and racing around the Scottish coastline.

All of the skiffs are built within local communities from a kit purchased from the association.

Members of the North Queensferry club are out on the water every weekend and, during the summer months, also take to the water on several weekday evenings – winds and tides permitting.

The club is very sociable and has members of all ages. Previous experience in boats or of rowing is not necessary. If you’d like to find out more, come and have a try – or join the club. Contact n.queensferrycoastalrowingclub@yahoo.com.