This coming Sunday sees the start of the SkiffieWorlds international skiff racing championship running from 24-30th July as Strangford Lough welcomes crews from over 40 rowing clubs from across the world to a week of skiff racing in the beautiful setting of Delamont Country Park near Killyleagh.
Participants will be coming from across Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, the Netherlands and as far away as the USA and Australia! This is only the second major international rowing regatta for the St Alye’s skiff rowing boats. Strangford Lough was selected by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association for this year’s competition not only because of its stunning natural beauty but also because of the success of the local community boat-building programme.
To date, nine St Ayles’ skiffs have been built in communities along the County Down coast from Dundrum to Donaghadee, supported by the Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership, PSNI, and local Councils, as part of the EU supported Down Rural Area Partnership.
The boat build has brought together people from different walks of life, young and old from the building of the boats by hand to the painting, naming and formation of coastal rowing clubs which regularly take the boats out on the water.
Many started out as strangers but became a team, with very many new friendships forming.
The Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership, the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association and the local clubs are looking forward to welcoming all the teams, not just rowers, but spectators and festival-goers alike to Strangford Lough. Its going to be a great week of racing in Delamont and a memorable event for Strangford Lough communities with all welcome to spectate.
In addition to the racing there is a programme of events being held in Delamont and the surrounding villages.
The SkiffieWorlds festival week will culminate in a spectacular closing ceremony when a flotilla of various rowing and sailing boats including a tall ship will be welcomed back to the villages of Portaferry and Strangford with a full day of festival activities in the villages for all on the 30th July. Parking is highly restricted in Strangford for this day and spectators and festival goers are asked to park in Portaferry and to use the ferry as pedestrians if travelling to Strangford. Traffic from Strangford side are asked to use the FREE park and Ride service operating from Castleward estate on the Strangford Road.
So come along and bring the family to enjoy this special sporting festival!
This event has been supported by Newry Mourne and Down District Council, Ards & North Down Borough Council and Sport NI.
For further information:-
http://www.strangfordlough.org/
https://www.facebook.com/downcoastalrowing/
http://www.visitstrangfordlough.co.uk/
