East Coast Rowing Council

The East Coast Rowing Council is the regional organisation of Skiff rowing on Ireland's East coast, representing the sport of Coastal and ocean rowing. As per local tradition, coastal rowing is undertaken by crews of four with one sweep oar each, and a coxswain, in wooden clinker-built boats. Formed in 1936, the ECRC has the task of formalising the rules, organising regatta dates and judging any disputes between members.[1] Rules were laid down as to sizes and weights of skiffs to make races fairer. The ECRC represents clubs in the counties of Dublin, Wicklow, and North Wexford.[2]

## East Coast tradition

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Main article: Coastal and ocean rowing § Ireland

Clinker skiff-type boats were once one of the most numerous type of working boats found along the eastern seaboard of Ireland. They were recorded in 1874 by historian E.W. Holdsworth, where he noted that 'the smaller boats employed for the line-fishery are of the same style as the Norway yawl, sharp at both ends'.

Skiff racing has its origins in the occupation of hobbling. Hobblers were freelance pilots, and competition was strong to be the first to board the approaching ships. Not only did the successful hobblers receive payment to pilot the ships into port but they were also awarded the contract for discharging/loading those ships whilst in port.

The skiffs worked mainly between Lambay Island just north of Dublin Bay and Wicklow Head, where they required considerable skill on behalf of the oarsmen. The long tradition of rowing is now carried on through the rowing clubs affiliated to East Coast Rowing Council. These clubs can be found around the old Dublin pilot stations of Ringsend and East Wall in Dublin Port, Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey, Bray, Greystones, Wicklow, Arklow, and Courtown.[3]

## Member clubs

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The current members of the ECRC are:

* Fingal Rowing Club, Balbriggan, Co Dublin
* Skerries Rowing Club
* St. Patrick's Rowing Club, Ringsend
* Stella Maris Rowing Club, Ringsend
* St. Michael’s Rowing Club, Dún Laoghaire
* Dalkey Rowing Club
* Bray Rowing Club Archived 2 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
* Greystones Rowing Club
* Wicklow Rowing Club
* Arklow Rowing Club
* Courtown Rowing Club

## Racing

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Each year the ECRC organises a summer schedule of regattas at clubs from Ringsend to Arklow where crews of all ages compete during the regatta. ECRC clubs also regularly compete in the biennial ‘Celtic Challenge’, a race of over 90 miles from Arklow to Aberystwyth in Wales as well as other long distance races such as the annual Ocean to City race in Cork, or the Kish lighthouse row in Dublin. Clubs can be regularly seen training at sea along the East Coast between April and September each year. Present day racing skiffs reflect their traditional origins, and are 25-foot-long (7.6 m), clinker built, double-enders.

### 2017 events and regattas

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The ECRC schedule for 2017 is as follows:-

Host  | Location  | Date

|
|

Arklow Rowing Club  | Arklow  | Sun 21 May
Skerries Rowing Club  | Skerries  | Sun 18 June
Bray Rowing Club  | Bray  | Sun 25 June
St. Michael's Rowing Club  | Dun Laoghaire  | Sun 9 July
Stella Maris Rowing Club  | Ringsend  | Sun 16 July
St. Patrick's Rowing Club  | Ringsend  | Sun 30 July
Greystones Rowing Club  | Greystones  | Sat 5 August
Wicklow Rowing Club  | Wicklow  | Mon 7 August
Dalkey Rowing Club  | Sandycove  | Sun 13 August

### 2016 events and regattas

[edit]

The ECRC schedule for 2016 was as follows:-

Host  | Location  | Date

|
|

Arklow Rowing Club  | Arklow  | Sun 29 May
Skerries Rowing Club  | Skerries  | Sun 12 June
Bray Rowing Club  | Bray  | Sun 19 June
St. Michael's Rowing Club  | Dun Laoghaire  | Sun 3 July
Dalkey Rowing Club  | Sandycove  | Sun 10 July
Stella Maris Rowing Club  | Ringsend  | Sun 17 July
St. Patrick's Rowing Club  | Ringsend  | Sun 24 July
Greystones Rowing Club  | Greystones  | Sat 30 July
Wicklow Rowing Club  | Wicklow  | Mon 1 August

### 2015 events and regattas

[edit]

The ECRC schedule for 2015 was as follows:-

Host  | Location  | Date

|
|

Arklow Rowing Club  | Arklow  | Sun 7 June
St. Patrick's Rowing Club  | Ringsend  | Sun 21 June
Greystones Rowing Club  | Greystones  | Sun 28 June
Bray Rowing Club  | Bray  | Sun 5 July
Skerries Rowing Club  | Skerries  | Sun 12 July
St. Michael's Rowing Club  | Dun Laoghaire  | Sun 19 July
Stella Maris Rowing Club  | Ringsend  | Sun 26 July
Dalkey Rowing Club  | Sandycove  | Sat 1 Aug
Wicklow Rowing Club  | Wicklow  | Mon 3 August

### 2014 events and regattas

[edit]

The ECRC schedule for 2014 was as follows:-

Host  | Location  | Date

|
|

Arklow Rowing Club  | Arklow  | Sun 8 June
Dalkey Rowing Club  | Sandycove  | Sun 15 June
Stella Maris Rowing Club  | Ringsend  | Sun 22 June
St. Patrick's Rowing Club  | Ringsend  | Sun 29 June
Skerries Rowing Club  | Skerries  | Sun 6 July
Bray Rowing Club  | Bray  | Sun 13 July
St. Michael's Rowing Club  | Dun Laoghaire  | Sun 27 July
Greystones Rowing Club  | Greystones  | Sat 2 August
Wicklow Rowing Club  | Wicklow  | Mon 4 August

### 2013 events and regattas

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The schedule for 2013 (ECRC regattas and significant other regattas) was as follows:-

Host  | Location  | Date

|
|

Arklow Rowing Club  | Arklow  | Sun 2 June
Ocean to City (non-ERC) | Cork Hbr. | Sat 8 June
Dalkey Rowing Club  | Sandycove  | Sun 9 June
Stella Maris Rowing Club  | Ringsend  | Sun 16 June
Bray Rowing Club  | Bray  | Sun 30 June
Greystones Rowing Club  | Greystones  | Sun 7 July
St. Patrick's Rowing Club  | Ringsend  | Sun 14 July
Skerries Rowing Club  | Skerries  | Sun 21 July
St. Michael's Rowing Club  | Dun Laoghaire  | Sun 28 July
Wicklow Rowing Club  | Wicklow  | Mon 5 August
All Ireland Championships (non-ERC) | Carnlough, Antrim | Fri/Sat/Sun 23/24/25 August

### 2012 events and regattas

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The schedule for 2012 (ECRC and non-ECRC events) was as follows:-

Host  | Location  | Date

|
|

Celtic Challenge  | Arklow - Aberystwyth  | 4-7 May
Ocean to City  | Cork Hbr.  | Sun 3 June
Arklow  | Arklow  | Sun 10 June
Dalkey (cancelled)  | Sandycove  | Sun 17 June (cancelled)
St. Michael's  | Dun Laoghaire  | Sun 24 June
Bray  | Bray  | Sun 8 July
Stella Maris  | Ringsend  | Sun 15 July
St. Patrick's  | Ringsend  | Sun 22 July
Greystones  | Greystones  | Sat 4 August
Wicklow  | Wicklow  | Mon 6 August
All Ireland Championships  | Courtmacsherry - Cork  | Sat/Sun 25/26 August
Hobbler's Challenge (25 km race)  | Dun Laoghaire  | Sat 8 September

### 2011 events and regattas

[edit]

The schedule for 2011 was as follows:-

Host  | Location  | Date

|
|

Stella Maris  | Ringsend  | Sun 29 May
St. Michael's  | West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr.  | Sun 19 June
Arklow  | Arklow  | Sun 26 June
Courtown  | Courtown  | Sun 10 July
Bray  | Bray  | Sun 17 July
St. Patrick's  | Ringsend  | Sat/Sun 23/24 July
Greystones  | Wicklow  | Sat 30 July
Wicklow  | Wicklow  | Mon 1 August
All Ireland Championships  | Rosslare - Wexford  | Sat/Sun 20/21 August
Hobbler's Challenge (25 km race)  | Dun Laoghaire  | Sat 3 September

### 2010 events and regattas

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2010 was an exciting year in the ECRC calendar with the ‘Celtic Challenge’ kicking off the season for a few of the clubs. Below are the dates of most of the events ECRC crews made an appearance at:

Host  | Location  | Date

|
|

Celtic Challenge 2010  | Arklow - Aberystwyth  | 1 - 2 May
Stella Maris  | Ringsend  | 30 May
St. Michael's  | West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr.  | 13 June
Arklow  | Arklow  | 27 June
St. Patrick's  | Ringsend  | 4 July
Courtown  | Courtown (format TBC)  | 11 July
Bray  | Bray  | 18 July
Dalkey  | Sandycove Hbr  | 25 July
Greystones  | Wicklow  | 31 July
Wicklow  | Wicklow  | 2 August
All Ireland Championships  | Whitegate (Cork)  | 14/15 August
Hobbler's Challenge (25 km race)  | Dun Laoghaire  | 21 August

### 2009 regattas

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Host  | Location  | Date

|
|

ECRC Invitational[permanent dead link] & Stella Maris  | Ringsend  | 23/24 May
Greystones  | Wicklow  | 7 June
Dalkey  | Sandycove Hbr  | 14 June
St. Patrick's  | Ringsend  | 28 June
St. Michael's  | West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr.  | 12 July
Bray  | Bray  | 26 July
Wicklow  | Wicklow  | 3 August
Arklow  | Arklow  | T.B.A.

## References

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1. ^ Mac Cártaigh, Críostóir (ed.). Traditional Boats of Ireland. Traditional Boats of Ireland Project.
2. ^ "History of Dalkey Rowing Club". Retrieved 24 February 2009.
3. ^ Tully, Darina. "Hobbling Has Turned To Skiff Racing In Dublin Bay". Inshore Ireland. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2009.