Denmark Rowers rowed 110km in the “Steamers Run”
In Late February 2024 a crew of 11 Denmark Rowers travelled to Sale in Victoria, to take part in the “Steamers Run” across the Gippsland Lakes. We borrowed “Cariad” from SASSCRA President, Jim Barr, which was the second skiff built in Australia, in Williamstown. The raid started early in Sale and headed down the Thompson River to Lake Wellington where we turned north in the choppy conditions for our first campsite at the Lake Wellington Yacht Club. The next morning was perfectly still and with 32 degrees forecast we set off early again rowing towards the horizon and the rising sun as we crossed the 15km lake.
Finding the McLennan River mouth was tricky for the leaders. We landed for a well earned rest before continuing down this connecting river and out into Lake Victoria for another 12km row to Loch Sport. We had covered 35km, the longest row of the event. We had a great evening meal at the hospitable Loch Sport Boating Club and were provide with breakfast and pack lunches for the next day’s row to Paynesville. After a teams photo session we had a very pleasant row east along Lake Victoria with a stop for lunch on a beach at Emu Bight before arriving in Paynesville.
In Paynesville the crew house was on a very smart canal development and showers and washing machine were put to good use. The next day we rowed on to Metung for lunch and presentations in the pub on the foreshore there. The most arduous part of the row followed that lunch: a 10km slog against wind and tide (which had been predicted to be going with us) on a full stomach! It was the most picturesque part of the journey though and when it was over we pulled the boats out and drove back to Paynesville. We had covered approximately 110km in 4 days and we couldn’t quite believe it. Apart from a few blisters everyone was healthier than when they set out and had very much enjoyed the experience and the camaraderie.
On Saturday we were rowing again as part of the procession that opened the Paynesville Classic Boat Show. Unfortunately it was too windy to take novices rowing for a planned try rowing event as part of the show. The show itself was really laid back and enjoyable with over 200 beautiful craft of all shapes and sizes taking part. Paynesville has a well preserved fleet of historic fishing boats and well worth a visit.
Denmark Rowers triumphed at the Augusta Picnic Regatta
A year ago Denmark Rowers had launched their second St Ayles Skiff the day before the Augusta Picnic Regatta and went into the races knowing nothing about racing. This year, thanks to coaching from Sally Ward from Nairn’s skiff club in Scotland, the rowers took out the coveted “Marg’s Mug”. This was an unimagined feat as Denmark’s mixed crew of Sally Ward, Ann and Ted Kirkbride, Peter Kovesi and cox David Cliff beat the all male crews from Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and Augusta Rowers. Denmark Rowers crews also won the mens race, came 3rd in the veterans race, 3rd in the mixed crew race and 5th in the ladies race.
The weather was miraculously calm on Saturday 27th January, after weeks of strong easterlies. The day started at 8am with a gruelling 3.5km race against the tide from Turner Street jetty to the Augusta Yacht Club in which Denmark came 4th. The short course races of 250m out to a turning buoy and 250m back to the finish were run in front of the crowd at the Augusta Yacht Club. The morning finished with a picnic lunch under the paperbark trees followed by prize giving and shanty singing.
A record 9 skiffs competed out of the 11 built so far in Western Australia and 29 in all of Australia.
The next event on the Denmark Rowers calendar is the Steamers Run. A marathon row in company through the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria, from Sale to Lakes Entrance, a distance of 100km to be tackled in 4 days. A team of 10 members and partners are going to borrow a Victorian skiff to take part.
Denmark Community Rowing Association or Denmark Rowers was incorporated in June 2021 to establish community rowing in the coastal town of Denmark, Western Australia. We have launched our two St Ayles Skiffs. We are now rowing our Skiffs on the beautiful Denmark River and Wilson Inlet. We have, as of 25th January 2023, canceled our incorporation and amalgamated with the Denmark Riverside Club where the boats are housed. This wonderful shared community facility in the centre of Denmark is a great place to row from.
St Ayles Skiffs are 6.7m long, four oar and coxswain, coastal rowing boats.
Designed for community volunteers to build from a plywood kit they are based on Scottish rowing boats. Over 400 of them have been built since 2010 spreading around the world from Scotland.
The projects build community spirit and provide an enjoyable form of exercise with physical and mental health benefits.
Upcoming Events
The Australian 5
This is an opportunity for all the St Ayles Skiff rowers in Australia to row together, but apart, a dispersed event that can overcome the huge distances we experience between clubs, the costs of getting together and the time this travel takes.
The Australian 5, St Ayles Skiff race is run over a distance of 5 km: 2.5 km out, a turn and 2.5 km back along the same line to the starting point. All crews compete anytime on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, 19th – 21st April 2024. Sign up on our booking sheet or come along to our Sundowner this Thursday 11th April at the Riverside Club at 5pm.
Rowing Sessions
You are welcome to come and give community rowing a go on either Wednesday or Sunday mornings. Just contact Dave Cliff at denmarkrowers@iinet.net.au to organise your chance to experience the beauty of the Denmark river while quietly rowing with friends.
News
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Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the Noongar Nations of Bibbulmen (Pibbleman) and Menang (Merningar) and recognise that they have a history of thousands of years of custodianship and culture.
We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and support the Ulluru Statement of the Heart.
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