Largs to Greenock Section 3 - Day 3

The virtual baton having been successfully delivered to Largs by Cumbrae CRC has spent the night at the Yacht Haven where the Coastal Rowing Club is based and whose rowers will take it on the next leg of its journey from Largs to Greenock.

LARGS The town of Largs whose name is believed to derive from the Gaelic ‘learg’ meaning a grassy slope is situated on the west coast of the Firth of Clyde. It has a long history of habitation stretching back as far as Neolithic times. In the middle ages it was the site of the Battle of Largs where the Scots fought the Viking hoards trying capture and occupy the land. Myth has it an invading Viking soldier stood on a thistle while landing and his scream alerted the Scottish clansmen who were able to repel the attack and win the day. It was after this battle the thistle was adopted as the national emblem of . In more recent times Largs was an active fishing town and eventually became a popular holiday destination for city dwellers coming ‘doon the water’ from Glasgow.

1919

CLUB HISTORY

Firth of Clyde Coastal Rowing was founded in 2012 as a self funded community club. The club built their first skiff Saltire at this time and a few years later as the club devel- oped and grew built a second skiff Thistle. The club is based within Largs Yacht Haven and has close ties with Largs Sailing Club. Over the years the club has maintained a healthy membership with both strong social and competitive elements. The club runs regular rowing sessions at the weekends during the winter and at weekends and evenings during a normal summer season. Out with this members are free to arrange their own crews and rowing sessions. The membership also reg- ularly attend regattas hosted by local clubs as well as having participated in events in Ireland and Holland. The club also prides itself with its position in the community regularly assisting in arranging beach cleans and has this year been presented with an SCRA Green Flag award in recognition of this.

THE VIRTUAL ROW Well the baton has been well looked after in Largs Yacht Haven overnight having been delivered to our club by our good friends from Cumbrae CRC. By the look of the forecast we’ve got a brisk easterly breeze so will be hugging the coastline. Its 9 o’clock so our first crew will head out and take advantage of the rising tide. All going well we will change crews three times and arrive at the Royal West Club by lunchtime. The distance to be covered is somewhere between 25 and 30 kilometres.

The crews are rowing our skiff Thistle for this adventure. She is looking splendid hav- ing been completely repainted over the winter by the clubs hard working mainte- nance section. As the first crew head out the marina they are looking over to the Isle of Cumbrae and the rugged peaks Arran beyond. Once past the safe water mark the cox swings to starboard and heads north, into the firth with the town of Largs on the starboard side. Very soon they pass the first landmark known as The Pencil which was erected in 1912 to commemorate the battle of Largs .

Continuing north Thistle steers offshore to mid channel as they negotiate the first of three ferry routes crossed on this jour- ney. This is a regular ferry crossing from Largs to the Isle of Cumbrae and being mid channel allows the crew plenty of time to ensure they are not in the ferries path. As the crew pulls hard Largs is left in its wake and Thistle continues north moving back towards the shoreline and skirting it as they row towards Skelmorlie and on- wards towards the first crew change point at Wemyss Bay. Firstly they have to pass the Wemyss Bay Ferry terminal which is the main ferry link to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.

Just past the terminal the second crew are eagerly waiting at Wemyss Bay beach and after carefully negotiating a landing on a stony shore the crews change over and Thistle takes to the open water again. Still heading north the crew settle in to a nice steady rhythm, benefitting from the incoming tide giving they are making good time as they pass Marina and head out into the open sea again.

This normally busy stretch of water is quiet today so the crew can row solidly and enjoy some of the scenery they are leaving behind them. Another few kilometres to go and they will be meeting up with third full crew who are waiting their arrival at Lunderston Bay. This long sandy beach will allow for a more relaxed crew change. The beach is a very popular destination with day trippers in the summer. With the third keen crew of the day all aboard they are ready to man the oars and complete the last leg of this section of the Row around Scotland event. This leg takes Thistle and the baton from Lunderston Bay round past and east to- wards Greenock. This will be a tough leg as the crew battle into the wind as they start to veer east at the Cloch Lighthouse. Pulling together the lighthouse quickly comes into view perched on the shore where it has constantly flashed a white light every three seconds since being built in 1797 to keep our seafarers safe.

Rounding the Cloch the cox now steers Thistle to the north east and towards Gourock. As the row continues towards Gourock the skiff passes the third ferry route

that has to be crossed. This is at McInroys Point where the ferries run from Gourock to Dunoon.

Having given the ferry a wide berth Thistle continues east along the waterfront of Gourock passing Royal Gourock Yacht club who are also joining the skiff communi- ty. Not far now and the final destination the Royal West club house situated at the western end of Greenock Esplanade. Almost there and the crew can see the friendly faces of the other crews who have made their way along to greet them. Coming ashore at the landing area in front of the clubhouse the cox can pass on the baton to the members of Royal West for the next leg of its journey. A great day out and thoroughly enjoyed by fifteen members of Firth of Clyde CRC who made up the virtual crews. The real crews all hope that in the near future this row can take place as originally intended on the water and will strengthen and cement the bonds between fellow clubs as the baton is passed between them.