Iolair – the first Arran skiff

For the technically minded, the St Ayles Skiff is built from a kit using high quality marine plywood using the clinker ply method. It is 22ft (6.5m) long and has a beam of 5ft 8in (1.7m). There is some variation in the weight according to exactly how it is built, but most are being finished at around 350lb (160kg) – light enough to be lifted on and off trailers by its own crew – though more hands would be preferred.

The first one was built at the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther in 2009 under the direction of Alec Jordan of Jordan Boats with the help of students from the Adam Smith College in Dunfermline. The skiff was designed by Iain Oughtred and takes its name from the St Ayles chapel which now forms the entance porch of the Scottish Fisheries Museum. The aim was to try and resurrect the old Fife miners’ regattas with a boat made from a plywood kit. To date, nearly 150 St. Ayles skiffs have been built worldwide. The Arran skiff “Iolair” (Gaelic for eagle) is hull number 141!

The Arran Coastal Rowing Club was formed early this year and “Iolair” was launched at the Lamlash Splash on September 19th and, since then, the club has been running regular training sessions. If you would like to try skiff rowing and maybe join a crew, come along to Arran Yacht Club in Lamlash on a Saturday from 10am onwards. Alternatively have a look at the Arran Coastal Rowing Club website. A second skiff is now under construction by members of the Arran Coastal Rowing Club.