The St Ayles Skiff
The St. Ayles Skiff (pronounced Saint Isles) is a 4 oared rowing boat, designed by Iain Oughtred and inspired by the traditional Fair Isle skiff. The boat’s hull and frames are built using clinker plywood and it measures 22’ with a beam of 5’ 8”. It is normally crewed by four sweep rowers with a coxswain.
The boat design was commissioned by The Scottish Fisheries Museum in 2009 as a vessel for use in The Scottish Coastal Rowing Project. It is suitable for construction by community groups and amateur boat builders.
As of 2017, over 200 boats have been built worldwide, mostly by communities around the Scottish coast but increasingly by groups elsewhere, including England, Northern Ireland, the United States, Australia and
New Zealand.
Beginning To End
The idea was established in 2014 by the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership, working with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, to develop community coastal rowing as part of the management of the area’s heritage and community regeneration, with the aim of celebrating boat building and coastal rowing traditions in the area, involving as many people as possible.
Initally nine communities began the building process. Within each community boat building sheds were offered, free of charge, from people with suitable premises. People provided tools, volunteered their time and raised extra funds. Each boat took approximately 800 hours to build from a flat pack kit by both experienced boat builders and novices.
The challenge re-ignited a deep seated love of wooden
boats amongst many who still had traditional boat building skills. Some had childhood memories of learning their craft alongside their parents and were stirred to pass their experience on to the next generation. However, for most people it was their first chance to do anything like this and they pitched in with skills learned in other trades or picked it up as they went along. Everyone could get involved.
In Kircubbin, Black Neb Vixen was named after a dark, nose (neb) shaped rock that mariners use to navigate into Kircubbin Bay.
She was built behind The Village Inn in a shed which, in years gone by, was used to build “Herons” and “Scorpions”.
“The whole town was talking about it, I was proud to be involved and to show my grandchildren what it is to build a boat” Derek Gilmore, Boat Builder
Sailing Regattas were held at Kircubbin from the 1890s. Kircubbin Sailing Club continues the town’s
association with boats and boating to the present day.
“Heron” class boats were built by Kircubbin Scout Troop in 1962. In the 1950s, “Flying 15s” were built by local men in Gilmore’s loft at Harbour View.
In the 1930s, fishermen drift-netting for herring in Greyabbey Bay would race their yawls against each other to see who could be first back to Kircubbin – perhaps to secure the best price for their catch!
In the 1700s smugglers landed contraband in the quiet inlet of Doctor’s Bay.
Six of the boats took part in the 2014 Narrows Challenges, one of which was Black Neb Vixen rowed by members of the newly formed Black Neb Rowing Club.
Since then the club has continued to grow its membership and activities, with Black Neb Vixen attending the world coastal rowing championships, "Skiffie Worlds" in 2016.
Shortly before this the club had completed the building of a new boat, "The Feathers" which also attended Skiffie Worlds on loan to a another group of Tasmanian Rowers from the Huon Valley.
These beautiful community boats are launched by our members from Kircubbin Sailing Club, whose continued support is very much appreciated.
Now we aim to row, race and enjoy our boats.
