East Coast Rowing Council (Ireland)
Encyclopedia
The East Coast Rowing Council is the regional organisation of the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation on Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

's East coast, representing the sport of Coastal and ocean rowing
Coastal and ocean rowing
Coastal and offshore rowing is a type of rowing performed at sea. Due to the harsher conditions encountered, the boats are wider and more robust than those used on rivers and lakes.-International competition:...

. As per local tradition, coastal rowing is undertaken by crews of four with one sweep oar each, and a coxswain, in wooden clinker-built boats. Formed in 1936, the ECRC has the task of formalising the rules, organising regatta dates and judging any disputes between members. Rules were laid down as to sizes and weights of skiffs to make races fairer. The ECRC represents clubs in the counties of Dublin, Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...

, and North Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...

.

East Coast tradition

Clinker skiff-type boats were once one of the most numerous type of working boats found along the eastern seaboard of Ireland. They were recorded in 1874 by historian E.W. Holdsworth, where he noted that ‘The smaller boats employed for the line-fishery are of the same style as the Norway yawl, sharp at both ends.’.

Skiff racing has its origins in the occupation of hobbling. Hobblers were freelance pilots, and competition was strong to be the first to board the approaching ships. Not only did the successful hobblers receive payment to pilot the ships into port but they were also awarded the contract for discharging/loading those ships whilst in port.

The skiffs worked mainly between Lambay Island just north of Dublin Bay and Wicklow Head, where they required considerable skill on behalf of the oarsmen. The long tradition of rowing is now carried on through the rowing clubs affiliated to East Coast Rowing Council. These clubs can be found around the old Dublin pilot stations of Ringsend and East Wall in Dublin Port, Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey, Bray, Greystones, Wicklow, Arklow, and Courtown.

Member clubs

The current members of the ECRC are:

Racing

Each year the ECRC organises a summer schedule of regattas at clubs from Ringsend to Arklow where crews of all ages compete during the regatta. ECRC clubs also regularly compete in the biennial ‘Celtic Challenge
Celtic challenge rowing race
The Celtic Challenge Rowing Race is a 96 mile rowing race from Arklow in Ireland to Aberystwyth in Wales. It is a biennial event which usually takes place on the first Saturday in May. Crews from Wales, Ireland, England and as far afield as Germany compete.The race is open to all 4-oared boats...

’, a race of over 90 miles from Arklow to Aberystwyth in Wales as well as other long distance races such as the annual Ocean to City race in Cork, or the Kish lighthouse row in Dublin. Clubs can be regularly seen training at sea along the East Coast between April and September each year. Present day racing skiffs reflect their traditional origins, and are 25 feet (7.6 m), clinker built, double-enders.

2009 regattas

Host Location Date
ECRC Invitational & Stella Maris Ringsend 23/24 May
Greystones Wicklow 7 June
Dalkey Sandycove Hbr 14 June
St. Patrick's Ringsend 28 June
St. Michael's West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr. 12 July
Bray Bray 26 July
Wicklow Wicklow 3 August
Arklow Arklow T.B.A.

2010 events and regattas

2010 was an exciting year in the ECRC calendar with the ‘Celtic Challenge
Celtic challenge rowing race
The Celtic Challenge Rowing Race is a 96 mile rowing race from Arklow in Ireland to Aberystwyth in Wales. It is a biennial event which usually takes place on the first Saturday in May. Crews from Wales, Ireland, England and as far afield as Germany compete.The race is open to all 4-oared boats...

’ kicking off the season for a few of the clubs. Below are the dates of most of the events ECRC crews made an appearance at:
Host Location Date
Celtic Challenge 2010 Arklow - Aberystwyth 1 - 2 May
Stella Maris Ringsend 30 May
St. Michael's West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr. 13 June
Arklow Arklow 27 June
St. Patrick's Ringsend 4 July
Courtown Courtown (format TBC) 11 July
Bray Bray 18 July
Dalkey Sandycove Hbr 25 July
Greystones Wicklow 31 July
Wicklow Wicklow 2 August
All Ireland Championships Whitegate (Cork) 14/15 August
Hobbler's Challenge (25 km race) Dun Laoghaire 21 August

2011 events and regattas

The provisional schedule for 2011 is as follows:-
Host Location Date
Stella Maris Ringsend Sun 29th May
St. Michael's West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr. Sun 19th June
Arklow Arklow Sun 26th June
Courtown Courtown Sun 10th July
Bray Bray Sun 17th July
St. Patrick's Ringsend Sat/Sun 23rd/24th July
Greystones Wicklow Sat 30th July
Wicklow Wicklow Mon 1st August
All Ireland Championships Rosslare - Wexford Sat/Sun 20th/21st August
Hobbler's Challenge (25 km race) Dun Laoghaire Sat 3rd September
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