We all know about rowing camps, but this is one with a difference, a unique opportunity for new and experienced rowers to build skills in traditional and modern coastal rowing craft. Sliding seat coastal rowing is catching a wave with the recent announcement that it will be the rowing sport in the 2022 Youth Olympics and potentially a demonstration event for 2024. Rowers familiar with the slimmer shells used on lakes and rivers should be curious. The same inland rowers may not be aware of the extent of traditional, fixed seat rowing in crafts such as Cornish Pilot Gigs, St. Ayles skiffs and Celtic longboats. We have decided to create a camp that allows rowers to try these different boats, build skills for rowing in waves, tides and currents, and then apply them with excursions along the beautiful coast of Cornwall plus a few friendly races. We promise a great rowing experience, excellent accommodation, award-winning food, great cultural activities and a warm welcome from the local rowing community. What could be better?
Three different boat types will be available and used by all participants throughout the camp, with the possibility of additional boats joining us for the Friday Festival of Sea Rowing. Our main fleet will be composed of FISA class coastal coxed quads (sculling) plus Cornish Pilot Gigs and a St. Ayles skiff (sweep rowing). Fixed seat rowing was the original approach before sliding seats were invented. Think dories, fishing boats, Thames skiffs and cutters. Cornish Pilot Gigs are fast and seaworthy craft, with 6 rowers and a pedigree going back to the 17th Century. Back in the day, sailing vessels arriving from exotic destinations would make the safe harbour of Falmouth their first port of call. Local pilots would be required to guide the ships in. Teams of gig rowers waited to spot sails on the horizon, and then would race out to meet the ship, carrying a harbour pilot as a passenger. First one there got the job. The history of St. Ayles skiffs is much more recent, although they are modeled on the traditional four oared Fair Isle skiff. Designed in Scotland in 2009 as a kit that could be built by clubs and amateur boat builders, now hundreds of boats can be found worldwide.
This camp is suitable for both experienced “flatwater” rowers and also for new rowers who have completed a Learn to Row course. On Monday through Thursday, two tracks will be offered, the Training Track and the Leisure Track. The former requires a higher level of rowing competence and fitness. The emphasis will be on learning coastal waters and associated techniques, race strategy and training, plus longer distance rows. The Leisure Track offers more casual rowing with shorter excursions and more basic skills coaching. Both tracks will be coached by experienced rowers, familiar with the different boats. It may be possible to spend a bit of time in both tracks. The week will culminate in what we are calling a Festival of Sea Rowing, where we will have three or four types of rowing craft lined up on the beach to test and compare before a parade of boats, along with a lunchtime speaker.
Rugged and rocky Cornwall is the westernmost tip of England. Our Coastal & Traditional Boat Camp will be based in Falmouth harbour and the river Fal. We will explore the creeks, gardens, beaches and natural maritime environment of this beautiful region. Flanked by two officially recognised ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ and with the South West Coast Path running alongside, the region’s coastline is a must-see attraction for walkers, swimmers and wildlife-watchers as well as for rowers. Accommodations will be in the city of Falmouth, a city famous for its maritime history, with an excellent range of restaurants, museums and art galleries. Each day we’ll explore a different part of the region, from as far as Helford Creek in the west (including the famous Frenchman’s Creek) towards the Cornish capital city of Truro in the north.
This camp is offered in conjunction with Row England, as well as our local partner rowing clubs. Row England is best known for its tours with Thames skiffs, also fixed seat boats. Jan Holloway is completing construction of his first St. Ayles skiff. At Rowing The World we have become more and more intrigued by all the different styles of rowing. We have now rowed fixed seats boats in California (whale boats), Ireland (cots), Italy (not sure what they were called!) and England (Thames skiffs and Cornish pilot gigs). As you know, we are great fans of coastal rowing. Rowing travel is all about exploring and experiencing new destinations, so why not new boats and a new and unique rowing camp?
Daily Distances | Boats | Group Size |
---|---|---|
Variable | Coastal coxed quads, Cornish pilot gigs and St. Ayles skiff | Maximum 15 rowers |
6 days/5 nights with five days of rowing.
Please note: we will be rowing in open sea, and weather and tides may require significant changes to the rowing program. Safety is a priority. This is an exploratory trip and the first of its kind – we are very confident that we will deliver a wonderful trip, but there is an element of the unknown and we ask you to be flexible and adaptable. However, this is also one of the appeals of this trip – together we learn, explore and enjoy.
Arrival in Falmouth. Sunday afternoon and evening. Transfer from Newquay Airport or train station to hotel. Evening meal in hotel and Tour welcome.
TRAINING TRACK | LEISURE TRACK | |
Fixed seat day #1 | Technical session in Cornish pilot gigs. Afternoon row in Carrick Roads and Percuil Creek. | Introduction to fixed seat rowing. Gentle row in afternoon for tea. |
Private visit to National Maritime Museum Falmouth |
TRAINING TRACK | LEISURE TRACK | |
Fix seat day#2 | Row to St. Mawes for lunch. Advanced fixed seat rowing and racing techniques. | Leisurely row to St. Mawes for lunch. Afternoon walk on the coastal path. Try the bigger heavier Pilot Gig or option to continue in St. Ayles skiff. |
Evening beachcombing social and plastic pick-up |
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TRAINING TRACK | LEISURE TRACK | |
Sliding seat day #1 | Technical sliding seat session. Afternoon to Malpas (options for between 10 and 24 km). | Introduction to sliding seat coastal rowing. Optional row to St. Mawes. |
Evening and dinner on own |
TRAINING TRACK | LEISURE TRACK | |
Sliding seat day #2 | Advanced sliding seat and coastal technique, including navigation and learning to read and ride swells and waves. Row to Helford Creek (12Km) for lunch at the Ferry Boat Inn. Afternoon row further up Helford Creek and potentially back to Flushing. | Boat trailered to meet group for lunch at Ferry Boat Inn. Afternoon row. |
Evening social with local clubs at Pandora Pub. |
We are calling this day a Festival of Sea Rowing. In the morning, all the boats will be lined up on the beach. We may even be able to add a Celtic longboat to the mix. A series of short rows and sprint races will test of all the boats types and compare techniques and handling, culminating in a parade of boats from Mylor to Feock. The camp will wrap up over lunch with a speaker (topic and details to be confirmed). Departure with transfer to the airport or train station.