A Magical Row Round The Bass Rock
We are lucky enough, when coastal rowing, to have many days which just take your breath away, and Sunday 24th August was definitely one of those days!
Under an azure sky and led by the organisers, North Berwick Coastal Rowing Club, an Eskmuthe crew set off with fellow clubs from East Lothian, Edinburgh and Fife for a row in company round Bass Rock.
Steedie Falconer, our second St Ayles’ Skiff, glided us through calm waters as we waved and called out greetings to friends in other boats. Craigleith Island shrank into the distance, seeming far more benign than it had the day before when racing around its choppy waters for hard-fought medals. We watched with interest as fishers went to check their creels and in awe at the paddle boarders heading there at speed.
Out into open water, we took our time to savour the experience, slowing our stroke rate and swapping round to make sure everyone got a chance to be ‘chauffeured’ in the passenger seat. Isn’t life grand!
As we reached the rock in good time, we were officially in the North Sea and the cry of ‘oars’ went up from cox, Sandra MacAskill. The crew of Damian McNamara, David Wilkie, Logan McLeod, Adam Wilson and Fox Stuart complied and then replied with ‘wow!’, the accompanying sound of phones being taken out of drybags to take photographs muted only by the calls from thousands of northern gannets.
Soaring up high on thermals, their loose feathers fluttered down to dot the sea like confetti petals. Well, it was a special day and what a sight!
Moving slowly round the rock for a closer look at birds and buildings and with plenty of pictures taken, we then stopped to bob around with other boats for our picnic and the inevitable question: ‘What do you have in your sandwich?’.
Chocolate bars were duly shared amongst the crew, then we switched coxes and then rowed across from Bass Rock to Tantallon Castle before turning and heading back to North Berwick harbour, guided by Fox the Cox.
Passing by this coastline in a St Ayles’ Skiff really was a privilege. It’s simply a beautiful experience. We saw so many seabirds, including cormorants perched on rocks, fanning their wings and the wee auks slipping under the water and appearing a few metres away, always raising a smile.
Safely back to North Berwick beach, it was a multi-club effort to get boats out of the water onto trailers and up the slip. Thank you to all who assisted.
Joined by Gaynor Allen and David Lee to tow our boat home, the crew said their goodbyes, still elated from what had simply been a most beautiful day. Thanks everyone, and roll on our next expedition!
Image credits: Logan McLeod and Fox Stuart
