East Coast Rowing Council Explained

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]

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.[3]

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’, 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.

2017 events and regattas

The ECRC schedule for 2017 is as follows:-

HostLocationDate
Arklow Rowing ClubArklowSun 21 May
Skerries Rowing ClubSkerriesSun 18 June
Bray Rowing ClubBraySun 25 June
St. Michael's Rowing ClubDun LaoghaireSun 9 July
Stella Maris Rowing ClubRingsendSun 16 July
St. Patrick's Rowing ClubRingsendSun 30 July
Greystones Rowing ClubGreystonesSat 5 August
Wicklow Rowing ClubWicklowMon 7 August
Dalkey Rowing ClubSandycoveSun 13 August

2016 events and regattas

The ECRC schedule for 2016 was as follows:-

HostLocationDate
Arklow Rowing ClubArklowSun 29 May
Skerries Rowing ClubSkerriesSun 12 June
Bray Rowing ClubBraySun 19 June
St. Michael's Rowing ClubDun LaoghaireSun 3 July
Dalkey Rowing ClubSandycoveSun 10 July
Stella Maris Rowing ClubRingsendSun 17 July
St. Patrick's Rowing ClubRingsendSun 24 July
Greystones Rowing ClubGreystonesSat 30 July
Wicklow Rowing ClubWicklowMon 1 August

2015 events and regattas

The ECRC schedule for 2015 was as follows:-

HostLocationDate
Arklow Rowing ClubArklowSun 7 June
St. Patrick's Rowing ClubRingsendSun 21 June
Greystones Rowing ClubGreystonesSun 28 June
Bray Rowing ClubBraySun 5 July
Skerries Rowing ClubSkerriesSun 12 July
St. Michael's Rowing ClubDun LaoghaireSun 19 July
Stella Maris Rowing ClubRingsendSun 26 July
Dalkey Rowing ClubSandycoveSat 1 Aug
Wicklow Rowing ClubWicklowMon 3 August

2014 events and regattas

The ECRC schedule for 2014 was as follows:-

HostLocationDate
Arklow Rowing ClubArklowSun 8 June
Dalkey Rowing ClubSandycoveSun 15 June
Stella Maris Rowing ClubRingsendSun 22 June
St. Patrick's Rowing ClubRingsendSun 29 June
Skerries Rowing ClubSkerriesSun 6 July
Bray Rowing ClubBraySun 13 July
St. Michael's Rowing ClubDun LaoghaireSun 27 July
Greystones Rowing ClubGreystonesSat 2 August
Wicklow Rowing ClubWicklowMon 4 August

2013 events and regattas

The schedule for 2013 (ECRC regattas and significant other regattas) was as follows:-

HostLocationDate
Arklow Rowing ClubArklowSun 2 June
Ocean to City (non-ERC)Cork Hbr.Sat 8 June
Dalkey Rowing ClubSandycoveSun 9 June
Stella Maris Rowing ClubRingsendSun 16 June
Bray Rowing ClubBraySun 30 June
Greystones Rowing ClubGreystonesSun 7 July
St. Patrick's Rowing ClubRingsendSun 14 July
Skerries Rowing ClubSkerriesSun 21 July
St. Michael's Rowing ClubDun LaoghaireSun 28 July
Wicklow Rowing ClubWicklowMon 5 August
All Ireland Championships (non-ERC)Carnlough, AntrimFri/Sat/Sun 23/24/25 August

2012 events and regattas

The schedule for 2012 (ECRC and non-ECRC events) was as follows:-

HostLocationDate
Celtic ChallengeArklow - Aberystwyth4-7 May
Ocean to CityCork Hbr.Sun 3 June
ArklowArklowSun 10 June
Dalkey (cancelled)SandycoveSun 17 June (cancelled)
St. Michael'sDun LaoghaireSun 24 June
BrayBraySun 8 July
Stella MarisRingsendSun 15 July
St. Patrick'sRingsendSun 22 July
GreystonesGreystonesSat 4 August
WicklowWicklowMon 6 August
All Ireland ChampionshipsCourtmacsherry - CorkSat/Sun 25/26 August
Hobbler's Challenge (25 km race)Dun LaoghaireSat 8 September

2011 events and regattas

The schedule for 2011 was as follows:-

HostLocationDate
Stella MarisRingsendSun 29 May
St. Michael'sWest Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr.Sun 19 June
ArklowArklowSun 26 June
CourtownCourtownSun 10 July
BrayBraySun 17 July
St. Patrick'sRingsendSat/Sun 23/24 July
GreystonesWicklowSat 30 July
WicklowWicklowMon 1 August
All Ireland ChampionshipsRosslare - WexfordSat/Sun 20/21 August
Hobbler's Challenge (25 km race)Dun LaoghaireSat 3 September

2010 events and regattas

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:

HostLocationDate
Celtic Challenge 2010Arklow - Aberystwyth1 - 2 May
Stella MarisRingsend30 May
St. Michael'sWest Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr.13 June
ArklowArklow27 June
St. Patrick'sRingsend4 July
CourtownCourtown (format TBC)11 July
BrayBray18 July
DalkeySandycove Hbr25 July
GreystonesWicklow31 July
WicklowWicklow2 August
All Ireland ChampionshipsWhitegate (Cork)14/15 August
Hobbler's Challenge (25 km race)Dun Laoghaire21 August

2009 regattas

HostLocationDate
ECRC Invitational & Stella MarisRingsend23/24 May
GreystonesWicklow7 June
DalkeySandycove Hbr14 June
St. Patrick'sRingsend28 June
St. Michael'sWest Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr.12 July
BrayBray26 July
WicklowWicklow3 August
ArklowArklowT.B.A.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Críostóir. Mac Cártaigh. Traditional Boats of Ireland . Traditional Boats of Ireland Project .
  2. Web site: History of Dalkey Rowing Club. 2009-02-24.
  3. Web site: Hobbling Has Turned To Skiff Racing In Dublin Bay. Tully. Darina. Inshore Ireland. 2009-02-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20110713040016/http://www.inshore-ireland.com/content/view/559/149/. 13 July 2011. dead. dmy-all.