St Ayles Skiff, Doineann

Shortly after this blog began, almost a decade ago, I became enamored of Iain Oughtred's Ness Yawl . The Ness Yawl has taken Doryman readers through many voyages. (If you took the time to follow that link, welcome back!)
In the intervening years, Iain, who was then an internet no-show, has become possibly the most popular small boat designer in the world. And once again I find myself drooling over a new design from the Master, his beautiful sharpie, Haiku.
She's exquisite, but that's a subject for another day.

While I was writing extensively about the Ness Yawl, Iain designed the St Ayles Skiff. The Scottish Coastal Rowing Association was formed on 29 May 2010, to encourage boat building and rowing and racing of coastal rowing boats along the Scottish Coastline. Communities were encouraged to become involved in the building of new boats to be rowed, principally the St Ayles skiff.

Doryman was quick to promote this extraordinary design and though hundreds of these boats have been built globally, only two St Ayles Skiffs exist on the west coast of the US, Doryman's cruising grounds. Both were built in Portland, Oregon at the Wind and Oar Boat School .

The first boat off the molds at WOBS (Rosie) lives in Portland, rowed regularly by the team of women who built her. The second St Ayles Skiff to come out of that shop was Doineann (Irish for tempest or storm), built for her proud owner, Julius Dalzell. The following update from Julius is the answer to my suggestion that the St Ayles Skiff might make a great sail-and-oar boat, if only she had a sail rig.

"Hi Michael,

It has been sometime since our last communication. As you may recall, Doineann was the second St. Ayles skiff built by the Wind and Oar and Oar School. My wife and I decided upon retirement, in July 2014, to move to a favorable locale, in Cathlamet, Washington for a variety of reasons, not the least being the beauty and boating opportunities of the Lower Columbia River. A significant aspect of our new abode was the availability of a large shop. Today it is a home and restoration facility for small craft.

Of course Doineann is one of the permanent residents. And yes, we did proceed to design and make a sail-rig for Doineann.

Before proceeding with the story, you might be impressed to know that we have a regular crew rowing Doineann, most having little prior rowing experience. We find that performance is outstanding regardless of wind or chop. She slices through anything with little fuss. Totally enjoyable.

We started with an e-mail exchange with Iain Oughtred himself. Iain warned that the craft was designed for rowing, not sailing, and would be tender, so recommended a small lug sail, maybe something around 90 sq. ft.. Iain stated that the existing keel might be sufficient to support lateral stability with minor leeway. He wasn’t sure how she would tack because of her wide turning radius.

We decided to go low budget. After considering many sail designs, our choice was an 85 sq. ft. balanced lug.

The mast was a used item acquired from a builder. Quite the specimen, ugly but it works. A sail was ordered from Lee Sails. I insisted that the sail be mounted without use of fittings or attachments. No screws, nails, brackets or drilled holes. In other words, no intrusions that would impact the original design.

The mast partner we devised uses the kabe support at the forward rowing station, using the kabes and pins incorporated into each rowing station at the gunnel. The mast step slips into the floor boards below. So, on a fine August day, we took to the river for the first sail. In a fresh, accommodating wind, her response was beyond expectations. She went like mad with five adults aboard. The existing steering rudder, though designed for rowing, performed well.The boat was not tender, in fact quite stable regardless of wind on any quarter. We had a ball!

Tacking was a challenge. Because of the long keel, she took her time. Speed would drop off and we would be in irons, propelled in reverse. Throwing the rudder over steered her in reverse through the tack. The sail would again fill and we were off. Too much rudder did nothing but enhance the stall, acting as a brake. The answer to a successful tack was two fold - lots of speed going into the tack, and finessing the rudder. A slow tack became doable.

The materials I used for gaff and boom are too light. Currently another gaff and boom are under construction. Three strips of tight grain fir to be epoxied and shaped.

So, Michael, that is the Doineann story to date. My expectations for the craft are progressing!"

Thank you Julius for that update. It's obvious you love your boat and it's easy to see why.
Of course the St Ayles Skiff is a one-design racing machine, so Julius was careful to keep the design legal for racing. He looks forward to the day when more St Ayles are built and racing here in the US. (me too!)

Meanwhile, the Haiku is calling me. Isn't she a beauty?

WoodenBoat’s Boatbuilding & Rowing Challenge (BARC)

The Coastal Rowing Project, WoodenBoat’s Boatbuilding & Rowing Challenge and the Traditional Small Craft Association...



It has been a year since the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association assembled on the beach at Anstruther Harbour to witness the launch of the prototype St Ayles Skiff.

Whole communities have become involved in building new boats to be rowed. Members of those communities also became involved, many for the first time, in using the sea for fitness, friendship and competition.

In the first season of boat building and regattas around the Scottish coast hundreds of people new to these activities enjoyed the teamwork required to build and race hand built skiffs.

The design chosen for this project was the St Ayles Skiff, commissioned from Iain Oughtred by the Scottish Fisheries Museum at Anstruther, Fife.
Jordan Boats, also in Scotland, made a “one design” kit.


Who would have guessed that the prototype splash only a year ago would promote such a brilliant journey? All credit due to the enthusiastic people who have become involved.

The project has been a remarkable success, with more than thirty boats either in use or being built in Scotland. The Coastal Rowing Project has now attracted worldwide attention. In addition to enquiries from Australia and Europe, the building of the St Ayles Skiff has now migrated to Maine.

Carl Cramer, publisher of internationally renowned Woodenboat Magazine, announced details recently of the newest effort to stimulate boat building and rowing skills among Maine high school students. The boat chosen for this program is the 22-foot St. Ayles Skiff, which has a crew of five people, four rowers and a cox. The program is billed as the Boat Building and Rowing Challenge or BARC.

WoodenBoat has donated one boat kit each to the programs from Deer Isle – Stonington High School and Sumner High School.
Hewes & Company of Blue Hill, Maine, the company that produces the kits, is donating one to the program at George Stevens Academy.
A representative from The Landing School will visit each group of Maine high school students to offer educational guidance and encouragement

Thus begins the St Ayles skiff project in the US.

I had a conversation with Alec Jordan of Jordan Boats recently about how this project has grown and he leaves the distinct impression that, though he is rightfully pleased about these developments, he would prefer the emphasis be more family oriented.

Alec sees the St Ayles Project as having no age barriers. I agree and submit that the success of the project in Scotland has much to say about the commitment of a full community and a sense of camaraderie developed from friendly sportsman-like competition.

This is the provenance of the Traditional Small Boat Association. The TSCA probably has the greatest concentration of wood boat building and traditional boat handling expertise in the country. If someone needs advice on anything concerning wood boat building or traditional boat handling, where better to look than the TSCA? The TSCA should support this project and facilitate the development of new community building efforts through building the St Ayles skiff nation-wide. The sense of community comes not only from local efforts but also from identification with a global project.

I congratulate Carl and WoodenBoat for bringing this project across the Atlantic and encourage the Traditional Small Craft Association Chapters to facilitate its development from coast to coast.

As the current President of the Traditional Small Craft Association I would like to invite anyone interested in this project for their community or schools please contact me here at Doryman, in the comments below.

Image of the Ulla Skiff and crew courtesy of the superlative Chris Perkins -- thank you brother!
Image of Iain Oughtred critiquing his creation by Charlie Hussey.
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Wind and Oar Boat School

The Wind and Oar Boat School in Portland, Oregon is building their second St Ayles Skiff.





Peter Crim, school founder, sent me an update on the activities at the newest, non-profit boat building school in the Pacific Northwest. He's pretty excited to be building the second St Ayles Skiff on the west coast of the US and also the second for the Wind and Oar Boat School.

The first boat for the school was a St Ayles, built by a team of women and named Rosie. Now Rosie will have some competition. Friendly community competition is what the St Ayles Skiff is all about!

We've been following the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project for about two years now. Quite frankly, I've lost track of how many of these fine rowing boats from the board of Iain Oughtred have been built. The fever (yes, I believe we could call more than forty boats in two years, a fever...) has spread around the world. You may remember that I had the pleasure of crewing on one and it was apparent right away why the boat is so popular.


Laying in the shear plank.........

...Toasting the whiskey plank.........



 WoodenBoat has come out in support with their Boatbuilding and Rowing Challenge. There will be a North American Championship June 28-30, 2013 at the WoodenBoat Show, in Mystic, Connecticut.

...Laying up the keel..........


The  Scottish Coastal Rowing and World Skiff Championships on Loch Broom, Scotland will be held July 8th-14th, 2013 this summer.

Don't you think it's time for your community to join the races? All good fun.

Peter Crim will be teaching a new class of boatbuilders this spring, on yet another St Ayles! If you want to get in on the action, please contact him at the Wind and Oar Boat School.

Rosie's sister-ship. Isn't she beautiful?

For an excellent account of the St Ayles Skiff in open waters, we have a story of crossing the Firth of Forth, from Elsie Johnston.

St. Ayles Skiff North American Championship

The St. Ayles Skiff North American Championship race will happen July 1, 2012 at the Mystic Seaport WoodenBoat Show.

WoodenBoat’s Boatbuilding And Rowing Challenge (BARC) is sponsoring a Maine State Championship race in Belfast, Maine May 30 @ 10am.

For information on each of these events, visit WoodenBoat's BARC site.

There are currently sixteen St. Ayles Skiffs built or being built in the US:

Mount Desert Island High School, ME
George Stevens Academy, ME
Belfast Alternative High School, ME
Deer Isle Stonington High School, ME
Sumner Memorial High School, ME
Washington Academy, ME
Vinalhaven High School, ME
Peekskill, NY
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, VT (two)
Renbrook School, CT
Chariho Tech School, RI
Moravian Academy, PA
Wind & Oar Boat School Women's Rowing Club, OR
Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, FL (two)

In addition there are twenty-five St Ayles already built in Scotland with twenty-three on the way.

Four boats are under construction in the Netherlands, one in England and I hear the Australians are getting in on the action.



The competition is heating up and you don't want to be left out, so submit your order for a Skiff and get to work!









If you wish to see more photos of these sleek rowing vessels, visit the website for Scottish Coastal Rowing.

For previous DoryMan posts on this topic, please click here.

Jordan Boats, in the UK, is the source for the St Ayles Skiff.

Hewes & Company Marine Division, the North American distributor of St Ayles Skiff kits, can be found on Facebook.
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The St Ayles Project comes to Portland

Here's a homework assignment for you. If you haven't been following the progress of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project you have a lot to catch up on.

The concept of building the St Ayles skiff as a community effort is best described as an epidemic. If you have the time, please follow the links here and here to see what I mean.







The Scottish Coastal Rowing Project was adopted last year by WoodenBoat magazine with a new west Atlantic project called BARC or "Boat Building and Rowing Challenge".







Now - if you haven't drowned in internet links - behold, the newest St Ayles skiff - built in Portland Oregon!





One third of the globe away from it's birth, this project has incubated into an enthusiastic community project.

Peter Crim is the spark plug for this effort and it was my pleasure last winter to host him and some friends at our local Boathouse Youth Maritime Project to talk about the St. Ayles skiff and community boat building.
















Mary and I visited the St. Ayles Project in Portland last weekend and we were mightily impressed. This project is unique in that it is the first St Ayles built entirely by women. The crew, recruited by Jann Lane is possibly the most enthusiastic group of boatbuilders I have ever encountered.

The pre-cut kits come from Hewes and Company in the US, on contract through Alec Jordan in the UK.
I've never built a boat from a kit cut on a CNC machine but the advantages are obvious. Every piece necessary to build this boat comes precision pre-cut, including wooden clamps, framing molds and plank scarf joints.







The teachers of this build are volunteers trained at the WoodenBoat School. If you want to learn to build a boat, how much better can it get?








I asked Peter how he got to this point and it was an interesting story:

"The idea for a school has developed over a six-year period. It started with a concept for a gap year school where students would live aboard a large sailing vessel for about nine months and they would learn everything from diesel maintenance to marlinspike seamanship, including biology, ecology, literature, ship repair and building a small gig. I did a lot of research on other similar programs but somehow it just didn't seem right at the time and it was probably fortunate that I didn't go there, given subsequent economic developments."

"My long-term goal was to go to the WoodenBoat School in Maine. In June of 2010, I called WB on a Thursday and by Saturday I was on a plane east. The first class was a two week course in small boat repair where we did major fixes on a Beetle Cat, a Herreshoff 12.5 and a Joel White Haven 12.5. I then took one week off and hung around various other classes. It happened to be a week in which Iain Oughtred was in residence so I spent a bit of time with him - a truly amazing and unique person."


"The next class was a design class taught by Graham Byrnes, who had just been awarded a prize for best design in WoodenBoat Magazine's design contest. It was in this class that I met Travis. He told me that he and his girlfriend were moving to Portland." [Travis is a volunteer teacher on this project. ed.]

"By the time I was done, I had become a friend with most of Brooklin, ME and the people at WoodenBoat. The atmosphere they create is transformational and watching week after week of students metamorphose from anxious city folk into a community of like minded maritime aficionados was inspiring."



It is obvious that Peter is interested in re-creating this transformational experience in his hometown. He has partnered with a new design studio, termed ADX, for space to build the St Ayles and the women are hard at work.

Doryman will be anxiously following this project and keep you posted.

I can't express how excited I am about this process and it's intrinsic impact. Anyone who has taught a group of former neophytes to realize their potential as boat builders will understand the satisfaction of witnessing the transformation. Imagine the impact of such community building on a global scale!?



The design space ADX Portland deserves mention. This is a private enterprise that promotes creative individual exploration.

New kids on the block, they have set up shop area for metal shop activities, a wood shop and a digital media station. The focus is on creative construction and teaching with an emphasis on design creativity, coupled with production.
Imagine a shop class for geeks.
There is no hype here. I felt perfectly at ease while visiting ADX. No one tried to sell me anything, yet I bought the whole truck load.




People in the Portland, Oregon area owe it to themselves to visit the old warehouse at 417 SE 11th Avenue.


Please tell them Doryman sent you.

St Ayles Skiff in Portland, Oregon from doryman on Vimeo.

If you are interested in how well these skiffs perform in heavy weather, visit the Scottish Coastal Rowing site for photos of last weekend's Regatta at Anstruther. Racing in force 4-5 winds!
Those skiffs are truly amazing ocean boats.
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St Ayles Skiff World Championships 2013

The first St Ayles Skiff Championships are being held at Ullapool in the North West Highlands of Scotland, on the 8th to13th of July, 2013. Last year this time, I expected to attend and was pretty excited about the prospect. As fate dictates, this will not be for me, this year. I'm trying to not be too disappointed and to soothe me, the organizers have sent me a patch for my sweatshirt. Isn't that nice of them? Thank you! Apart from the St Ayles being an incredible boat, it's the spirit behind this endeavor that draws me to it. Nice people, those Scots.

If you intend to participate in the first World Championships for the St Ayles Skiff, you have just four days to sign up. You will find all the information you need on the SCRA World Championship "Notice of Race" .

A truly novel entrant will be Sephira, also known as The Musical Ark. Sephira was built collaboratively by students and teachers at Moravian Academy, a pre-kindergarten to 12th grade college preparatory school in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The vessel is a seaworthy St. Ayles-style skiff, rigged with eight long piano wires from masthead to stern to make it a sea-going harp. The string length and resonance properties of the hull are designed to play notes in the frequency band of whale song.

A $12,000 fundraising goal is currently underway to ship Sephira across the Atlantic. This figure includes $8,000 for the vessel's round-trip across the Atlantic Ocean in a 40 foot-container, as well as $4,000 to support the crew of students with travel and accommodations. The Moravian Academy has asked us to help make this epic voyage possible by supporting this project with a donation. You can help by pledging on the Musical Ark's Kickstarter page. 

Follow this link to hear Sephira's Whale Song.



This is an independent trip abroad and is not being offered by Moravian Academy. Any student who goes will be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

St Ayles Skiff World Championships – July 8th to 14th, 2013

Doryman hopes to take a trip to Scotland in 2013 to enjoy the festivities at the first St. Ayles Skiff World Championships. Hope you can come along!

Here's the invite that came in the mail today:

"The Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club is delighted to announce that Ullapool has been selected by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association as the venue for the first World Championship for Coastal Rowing using the St Ayles Skiff. With the astonishing growth of St Ayles Skiff building and rowing by communities internationally the time is right to run a Skiffie Worlds to give an opportunity for Rowers from across the Globe to meet in friendly competition."

"Ullapool, on the banks of Loch Broom, a large sheltered sea Loch in the Northwest of Scotland, is an ideal location to host such an event. With an existing infrastructure developed to cater for the needs of visitors and great community experience in running large cultural events SkiifieWorlds will be well within the capacity of the village."

"Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club together with their partner organisations, the Loch Broom Sailing Club, Coigach Community Rowing and the Ullapool Harbour Trustees look forward to welcoming visiting crews to our magnificent waters. A full programme of maritime and landbased activities and entertainment is planned culminating with the Prizegiving followed by a boisterous Ceilidh Dance on Saturday 13th, 2013."



It's hard to pass up an invitation like that. I've been promised that there will be "loaner" boats available for international guests who can't bring their own Skiffs.

Let the races begin!

Photo courtesy of Chris Perkins.

St. Ayles Skiff Launched at Anstruther

On the 31st of October, the celebrated St. Ayles Skiff was officially launched. Doryman has been avidly following the progress of this endeavor, though on the official launch day, he was drifting on his favorite local river, oblivious to the rest of the world. Perhaps dreaming of his own St. Alyes skiff, who knows?



It's a good thing Chris Perkins is on the job and thanks to him we have a welcome update with some great shots and videos of the event.
Luminaries from the The Scottish Fisheries Museum, local builders, designers and enthusiasts were present for the official launch and as may be expected, everyone was anxious to try the sleek new craft.






More information on the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project and the launch of the prototype skiff -


and more about the next St. Ayles Skiff in progress... This concept has spread like wild fire!



In the last photo, that's designer Iain in the second position.

Just for grins, this veteran crew decided on a true sea trial, over the vocal objections of builder Alec. That man has a voice! I'm sure he has confidence in the seaworthiness of his craft, but is concerned for liability reasons.
As you can see, the boat is doing what a well designed and expertly crafted boat is suppose to do, and in expert hands, obviously in it's element.





It's almost enough to prompt a man to move to Scotland...

Thanks to Chris Perkins for keeping us all informed and graciously providing us with his fine photos and videos. (please respect Mr. Perkin's copyright).
And thanks to Alec Jordan for conceiving of a project so rife with possibility. And to all those who's dedication to this project has made so much happen in such a short time; Cheers!
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Scottish Coastal Rowing Project

The Scottish Coastal Rowing Project is underway.

The Scottish Fisheries Museum at Anstruther is supporting this initiative to restart coastal rowing and racing along the Scottish coastline.

The project proposes individuals build the St Ayles Skiff, designed by internationally renowned small boat designer Iain Oughtred. The design provides a mix of tradition, seaworthiness, speed and ease of build.

The St Ayles Skiff is designed to be built by the clinker plywood construction method.

Anyone familiar with Iain's designs will recognize this boat immediately. More of a dory than a skiff, it is an obviously efficient boat.

The St Ayles Skiff is approximately 22 feet long with a beam of 5′8″. Crew will be four rowers and a coxswain.

The kits will be available through Alec Jordan Boats soon and the prototype is going together as we speak. There are photos of the build at Strathkanchris's Little World.

So, the question that comes to mind?

Why should the Scots have all the fun? Why, when there are coastal waters just outside my window just begging for the proper mix of tradition, seaworthiness and speed?

Is anyone for making this a global project?
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St Ayles Skiff in Loch Broom

There is a lot of news to digest from the last week here in dory-land. We'll spend the next few days getting caught up.

First, I'd like to share the news from Scotland on the hugely popular St Ayles project. You may remember that the folks in Scotland have been building these racing skiffs as fast as they can to get in on the action. It's infectious! I've been working on drumming up interest in this project here at home because it seems like far too much fun to pass up. If you haven't yet heard of the St Ayles skiffs, please take some time to follow it's progress. This link will take you back through previous posts.

My good friend Chris Perkins sent me an update on the most recent launch of a St Ayles built by the Ullapool High School students. Under the guidance of the superlative Topher Dawson these young people turned out a boat they can be proud of. Watch for these enthusiastic young competitors, they could be real trouble!

Chris tells the story of the early season on the Loch Broom:

"Spring on Loch Broom"

"Friday 6th May saw the conclusion of much frenetic activity on the Coastal Rowing front in the Loch Broom area. Piped in procession from the high school to Ullapool’s Wee pier the latest St Ayles Skiff build, Cùl Mòr (a local hill) was launched during the school’s lunchtime break. The why of the timing was because a team of Ullapool High School students built her over the winter and spring terms and the ceremony had to fit in with the school day. The first School build to get splashed Cùl Mòr is a real credit to the build team guided by Topher Dawson and local boatbuilder Mark Stockl, well put together and nicely finished in blue and grey with a white sheerstrake. Anointed with the national spirit by Headmaster, Mr P. Harrison, she was quickly launched onto the slightly ruffled waters of Loch Broom to whoops of delight from her young crew. All too quickly she had to return to shore for the crew to resume their studies only just giving time for fellow skiffs Ulla and Loki to join her on the water. The Ullapool Harbour Trustees(who donated the kit and materials) faith in the ability of the local students has been amply justified."















"A couple of weeks earlier the Loch Broom Sailing Club had splashed their skiff Loki, again to the accompaniment of the pipes. Loki had been in build for the past two winters (the builders were far too busy playing on the water during the summer) and has the most intimidating figurehead on her stem – opinion is divided on exactly what it represents, a Black Swan or Water Fowl of a more local origin?"










"Whatever it may be it is a grand bit of sculpting. Sadly for photographers the LBSC team chose a livery that inhibits good imagery – satin black absorbs the light and conceals the detail – it will however be a permanent reminder of the stout beverage that fueled the build through those long cold and dark winter evenings."



















"And three weeks before Loki hit the water the Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club had the long delayed formal naming of Ulla. Traumatized from her encounter with some rocks during an early winter gale and very high tide last November the maintenance team led by Topher Dawson had spent the winter replacing the smashed planking and repainting and varnishing."



"Whilst she was in dry-dock the opportunity was taken to apply her name. Experience from last year showed that once she was in the hands of the rowers there is very little chance of taking her out of service long enough to do maintenance."







"An interesting aside – it has been noticed that Ulla is much faster since the gilded name has been applied, since she clearly responds well to bling, how much faster will she be once the gold go faster stripes are applied next winter? A launching trolley and bespoke trailer were also built to make it easier to move her around Scotland to attend the many regattas being arranged. The first one will be at Ullapool's neighbors, the Coigach Lass group just up the coast in Achiltibuie where all four of the Loch Broom area Skiffs will race together with Skiffs from further south on the 21st May. Knowing how well the Coigach party this should be a memorable happening."



Let the races begin! Thank you, Chris for the update with the fine photos. As usual, I would love to be there to join in the festivities and put my back into an oar.

Someday soon my friend, someday soon.

All photos courtesy of Chris Perkins and can only be reproduced with his specific permission.
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Wemyss Skiff

Alec Jordan of Jordan Boats is at it again. He and Iain Oughtred have teamed up to create a smaller sistership to the St Ayles Skiff.









The Wemyss Skiff is designed for tandem rowing, with or without a cox. Alec launched the prototype four days ago, in Ullapool, Scotland.

He gets some last minute advice from Topher Dawson.










Our good friend and photographer extraordinaire, Chris Perkins, was there and sent in some photos which just about tell it all.






This is what Chris had to say:

"Alec Jordan won one of the raffle prizes at our [Loch Broom Skiff] Regatta back in August, a nights B&B accommodation in Ullapool. Since last weekend was the Guitar Festival he decided to redeem his prize."

"This also gave him a fixed point on the calendar to get the new Wemyss Skiff on the water (I was going to say finished but you will be only too familiar with boatbuilder optimism and finish dates). So after working non-stop for twelve days and with the varnish still tacky, Alec drove up from Fife last Saturday to splash the new design on Loch Broom. The words on the Ullapool Coastal Rowing Club site probably tell most of the story."






The Weymss Skiff is 16 feet LOA and 4 feet-9 inches extreme beam, lightweight and very seaworthy. If the St Ayles Skiff is a bit more boat than you need, the Weymss Skiff might just fit the bill.










Stay tuned......