East Coast Rowing Council

The East Coast Rowing Council is the regional organisation of the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation 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 25-foot-long (7.6 m), clinker built, double-enders.

2017 events and regattas

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

2016 events and regattas

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

2015 events and regattas

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

2014 events and regattas

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

2013 events and regattas

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

2012 events and regattas

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

2011 events and regattas

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 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:

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

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.
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References
  1. Mac Cártaigh, Críostóir (ed.). Traditional Boats of Ireland. Traditional Boats of Ireland Project.
  2. "History of Dalkey Rowing Club". Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  3. Tully, Darina. "Hobbling Has Turned To Skiff Racing In Dublin Bay". Inshore Ireland. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
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