COASTAL rowing clubs from across Scotland joined ‘Boatie Blest’, the Cockenzie and Port Seton coastal rowing club, for the first regatta of 2018 at Port Seton Harbour.

The April 28 event featured 67 races over a 250-metre figure-of-eight course within the harbour.

Spectators gathered on the beach and pier to watch boats from North Berwick, Royal West of Scotland, Firth of Clyde, Rowporty, Eskmuthe, Eastern ARC, Newhaven, St Ayles, Broughty Ferry, St Andrews, Portsoy and Boatie Blest compete.

The racing began with the men’s open, won by Broughty Ferry. The women’s open followed, with Boatie Blest the winning team, before the home club also took gold in the mixed open category.

The 45 years-plus mixed race was won by Broughty Ferry, with Boatie Blest teams claiming gold in the 45 years-plus women’s and 45 years-plus men’s categories. 

It was a race against the tide for the final category of the day of mixed 220 years-plus (the combined age of the four-person team), and gold medals went to the team from Anstruther.

The fastest time of the day was set by Boatie Blest in the mixed open in 2mins 16.9 secs (Helen Wyllie, Cate Warren, Grant Aitken, David Bathgate and Stuart Mack).

The high number of races required a very tight turnaround of boats between one category and the next, and the event was well run to ensure all races could take place before low tide. With a catering tent, raffle, heritage stall, music and activities for children, it proved a great day for rowers and spectators.

A spokesperson for Boatie Blest said: “Thank you to everyone who participated and made the day a great success.”