The East Coast Rowing Council is the regional organisation of Skiff rowing on Ireland's East coast, representing the sport of Coastal and ocean rowing. 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.[1] 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, and North Wexford.[2]
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.[3]
The current members of the ECRC are:
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’, 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 25adj=midNaNadj=mid, clinker built, double-enders.
The ECRC schedule for 2017 is as follows:-
| Host | Location | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arklow Rowing Club | Arklow | Sun 21 May | |
| Skerries Rowing Club | Skerries | Sun 18 June | |
| Bray Rowing Club | Bray | Sun 25 June | |
| St. Michael's Rowing Club | Dun Laoghaire | Sun 9 July | |
| Stella Maris Rowing Club | Ringsend | Sun 16 July | |
| St. Patrick's Rowing Club | Ringsend | Sun 30 July | |
| Greystones Rowing Club | Greystones | Sat 5 August | |
| Wicklow Rowing Club | Wicklow | Mon 7 August | |
| Dalkey Rowing Club | Sandycove | Sun 13 August |
The ECRC schedule for 2016 was as follows:-
| Host | Location | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arklow Rowing Club | Arklow | Sun 29 May | |
| Skerries Rowing Club | Skerries | Sun 12 June | |
| Bray Rowing Club | Bray | Sun 19 June | |
| St. Michael's Rowing Club | Dun Laoghaire | Sun 3 July | |
| Dalkey Rowing Club | Sandycove | Sun 10 July | |
| Stella Maris Rowing Club | Ringsend | Sun 17 July | |
| St. Patrick's Rowing Club | Ringsend | Sun 24 July | |
| Greystones Rowing Club | Greystones | Sat 30 July | |
| Wicklow Rowing Club | Wicklow | Mon 1 August |
The ECRC schedule for 2015 was as follows:-
| Host | Location | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arklow Rowing Club | Arklow | Sun 7 June | |
| St. Patrick's Rowing Club | Ringsend | Sun 21 June | |
| Greystones Rowing Club | Greystones | Sun 28 June | |
| Bray Rowing Club | Bray | Sun 5 July | |
| Skerries Rowing Club | Skerries | Sun 12 July | |
| St. Michael's Rowing Club | Dun Laoghaire | Sun 19 July | |
| Stella Maris Rowing Club | Ringsend | Sun 26 July | |
| Dalkey Rowing Club | Sandycove | Sat 1 Aug | |
| Wicklow Rowing Club | Wicklow | Mon 3 August |
The ECRC schedule for 2014 was as follows:-
| Host | Location | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arklow Rowing Club | Arklow | Sun 8 June | |
| Dalkey Rowing Club | Sandycove | Sun 15 June | |
| Stella Maris Rowing Club | Ringsend | Sun 22 June | |
| St. Patrick's Rowing Club | Ringsend | Sun 29 June | |
| Skerries Rowing Club | Skerries | Sun 6 July | |
| Bray Rowing Club | Bray | Sun 13 July | |
| St. Michael's Rowing Club | Dun Laoghaire | Sun 27 July | |
| Greystones Rowing Club | Greystones | Sat 2 August | |
| Wicklow Rowing Club | Wicklow | Mon 4 August |
The schedule for 2013 (ECRC regattas and significant other regattas) was as follows:-
| Host | Location | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arklow Rowing Club | Arklow | Sun 2 June | |
| Ocean to City (non-ERC) | Cork Hbr. | Sat 8 June | |
| Dalkey Rowing Club | Sandycove | Sun 9 June | |
| Stella Maris Rowing Club | Ringsend | Sun 16 June | |
| Bray Rowing Club | Bray | Sun 30 June | |
| Greystones Rowing Club | Greystones | Sun 7 July | |
| St. Patrick's Rowing Club | Ringsend | Sun 14 July | |
| Skerries Rowing Club | Skerries | Sun 21 July | |
| St. Michael's Rowing Club | Dun Laoghaire | Sun 28 July | |
| Wicklow Rowing Club | Wicklow | Mon 5 August | |
| All Ireland Championships (non-ERC) | Carnlough, Antrim | Fri/Sat/Sun 23/24/25 August |
The schedule for 2012 (ECRC and non-ECRC events) was as follows:-
| Host | Location | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic Challenge | Arklow - Aberystwyth | 4-7 May | |
| Ocean to City | Cork Hbr. | Sun 3 June | |
| Arklow | Arklow | Sun 10 June | |
| Dalkey (cancelled) | Sandycove | Sun 17 June (cancelled) | |
| St. Michael's | Dun Laoghaire | Sun 24 June | |
| Bray | Bray | Sun 8 July | |
| Stella Maris | Ringsend | Sun 15 July | |
| St. Patrick's | Ringsend | Sun 22 July | |
| Greystones | Greystones | Sat 4 August | |
| Wicklow | Wicklow | Mon 6 August | |
| All Ireland Championships | Courtmacsherry - Cork | Sat/Sun 25/26 August | |
| Hobbler's Challenge (25 km race) | Dun Laoghaire | Sat 8 September |
The schedule for 2011 was as follows:-
| Host | Location | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stella Maris | Ringsend | Sun 29 May | |
| St. Michael's | West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr. | Sun 19 June | |
| Arklow | Arklow | Sun 26 June | |
| Courtown | Courtown | Sun 10 July | |
| Bray | Bray | Sun 17 July | |
| St. Patrick's | Ringsend | Sat/Sun 23/24 July | |
| Greystones | Wicklow | Sat 30 July | |
| Wicklow | Wicklow | Mon 1 August | |
| All Ireland Championships | Rosslare - Wexford | Sat/Sun 20/21 August | |
| Hobbler's Challenge (25 km race) | Dun Laoghaire | Sat 3 September |
2010 was an exciting year in the ECRC calendar with the ‘Celtic Challenge’ 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 |
| 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. |