Kiwi Raid and Regatta 2016

Robbie Wightman sent us a "heads-up" about the upcoming Kiwi Raid in New Zealand.
The Raid starts January 29th 2016 at Sandspit and finishes fifteen days later in Auckland. Planned events are scheduled along the way, for sailors and rowers alike. There will be a two day St Ayles skiff regatta at Whangaparoa in the middle. Everyone is invited to join in.
This event is fully catered, so entrants get three meals a day. Accommodation is mostly camping, with good facilities.

This raid begins on the  Matakana River at Sandspit, NZ.
The Mahurangi River opens into Kawau Bay at Mahurangi with access to the destinations of Kawau Island and the Hauraki Gulf in the most popular cruising destination in New Zealand.
The raid ends in the busy Waitamata Harbor, Auckland, NZ

Raid New Zealand was formed to promote, support and facilitate small boat adventuring and raiding in New Zealand. This will be their first organized raid. There are six St Ayles skiffs entered, including two with sail rigs (please see previous post about outfitting a St Ayles Skiff with sail power.).




Thank you, Robbie for the update - Wishing you fair winds and fine weather for the first Kiwi Raid and Regatta!

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?

Doineann , the second St Alyes Skiff launched in Portland

Doineann (Gaelic for "Storm"), a St Alyes Skiff, was launched last Sunday, in Portland, Oregon.
She is the eighth St Alyes skiff built in the US and the second on the west coast.
These boats were built at the Wind and Oar Boat School, a non-profit run by director Peter Crim, by the teams that will race them.

The first boat to come out of the school was Rosie, whose all-woman team will be participating in the Skiffie Worlds next month in Ullapool, Scotland. Rosie joined Doineann on the Willamette River, with Portland in the background, as the new team tested their fine craft for the first time.

Congratulations to the builders of Doineann and also to the Wind and Oar Boat School!

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.

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 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 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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Man Overboard

We don't talk much about safety here on DoryMan, but those who have sailed with me know that I take safety very seriously. Boating is a hazardous sport, no doubt, but many casualties can be prevented with a little preparation and education.


I am enlightened this morning by a post on Ullapool Coastal Rowing, a website dedicated to the St Alyes Skiff in Loch Broom, Scotland. What a seaworthy boat! The women's crew of Ulla are a dedicated sort and decided to test their boat for buoyancy. While they were at it, they mocked up a Man Overboard Drill, which is well documented with photos and video. It's good to know that your boat will float when swamped. Please take special note of how much effort is required to recover a swamped boat.

Be careful out there! Always carry basic safety equipment; Food, Water, Anchor, Life Jackets and Throwable Floatation, plus spare clothes and blankets. I keep a safety kit of warm clothes and blankets in a sealed dry-bag, which also adds floatation to the boat.

What habits have you developed to insure your safety on the water?
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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......

Rosie Splashes in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon, US is called the "City of Roses" and has a huge rose garden overlooking the city and the Willamette River, which runs through it. Roses can be found everywhere in Portland this time of year.








The Willamette River was the scene last Saturday for the launch of Rosie, the second St Ayles Skiff to hit the water in the US and the 26th boat to be built from this hugely popular one-design, worldwide.





The women's red scarves recall Rosie the Riveter, an icon from WWII celebrating the women whos manual labor kept the US economy alive while the men were fighting.
This team of women are from the first class to build a boat in the newly formed, not-for-profit, Wind and Oar Boat School - the first boat for the School and the first boat for the women, most of whom had never built anything in their lives.



I have said many times that building boats builds community, builds character and brings out the best in people. Here is the proof.




The new boat was christened with pure water, to avoid contributing to the industrial pollution of this old working river.









I have had the privilege of being a consultant on this project, but please don't tell anyone that I had hoped, from the first, to be allowed to row the finished boat.








My dream came true Saturday. You are witness to one very happy Doryman.


Thank you, Wind and Oar Boat School and thank you, Rosies!







Good Luck and may the Wind be always at your Back!



Rosie was launched at the Willamette Sailing Club, just upriver from downtown Portland.






Mary made up this video of the launch.
The first musical piece is "Preludio" by Archangelo Corelli.

The second tune is "The Skye Boat Song" a traditional Scottish song played by solo flute. This traditional Scottish song recalls the escape of the young pretender Charles Edward Stewart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) after his defeat at Culloden in 1746. Aided by Flora MacDonald, Prince Charles escaped to the Isle of Skye in a small boat, in the disguise of a maid-servant.
"The Skye Boat Song" was first published in 1884, with lyrics written by Sir Harold Boulton to an air collected by Miss Annie MacLeod in the 1870s. It is said that Miss MacLeod was on a trip to the Isle of Skye and was being rowed over Loch Coruisk when the rowers broke into a Gaelic rowing song called “Cuachag nan Craobh” (The Cuckoo in the Grove). She set down only what she remembered of the air when she arrived at her destination, and this is probably why, while the first half of the tune is actually believed to be an old sea shanty, the other half is traditionally attributed to Miss MacLeod.

The third song is "Rosie the Riveter" by The Tillers, a group based in Cincinnati.

Launching "Rosie" at the Willamette Sailing Club from doryman on Vimeo.

And if you haven't had enough, here is the slideshow:

The St Ayles Project in Portland, Oregon

What a great weekend!

Mary and I visited the design incubator ADX in Portland, Oregon last Saturday. The Wind and Oar Boat School is building a St. Ayles Skiff there and on Saturday they laid-up the two garboard planks.







We found about half the ten women team suiting up for epoxy work.









The first plank to go on was the first one ever for this team of builders, but you wouldn't know it. By the second plank they were seasoned professionals.

Talk about quick study!















Laura, Liz, Jann and Beca are pretty happy and proud - rightfully so.


The week before our visit, OPB Radio (Oregon Public Broadcasting) interviewed Laura, one of the team members and Kelly, one of the owners of ADX, about this project.
Mary has put together a video of the first garboard plank going on, with a portion of the interview as a sound track. You can get a good sense of the atmosphere and excitement. At one point, there were as many photographers as boatbuilders!

The two men in the video are Travis, who is an instructor and Peter who is the founder of the Wind & Oar Boat School.

St Alyes Skiff at the Wind & Oar Boat Building School from doryman on Vimeo.

I feel a real sense of privilege to be witness to this process. It's very difficult for me to keep my hands off the boat. Hopefully the class doesn't mind my prying and pestering.






They plan to name the boat Rosie. Portland is called the City of Roses and the women feel an affinity for Rosie the Riveter, from war time days when women carried the economy of the country at home and in the factories.











I will be gone on an adventure for most of the month of July (more on this later) and at the rate they are going, the Wind and Oar Boat School might be done with this boat by the time I get back.





Hopefully I'll make it to the launch. And if I do, so will you!


More photos here.