MEMBERS of North Berwick Rowing Club have returned to the water for the first time in six months, the first of East Lothian’s four rowing clubs to do so.

Five club members donned face masks and took to the sea on September 6, on a near perfect day of calm seas and blue skies.

All sports were halted for six months due to coronavirus.

But, with the easing of government restrictions, coastal rowing has returned with strict new rules around social distancing and cleaning and sanitising of boats and equipment.

New procedures have been put in place to protect members and the wider community and strict controls are now applied to the whole process of launching, rowing and handling equipment.

The club often completes training sessions and visits other towns and villages for regattas but these are not looking possible in the near future, with outings strictly restricted to social rowing around islands near North Berwick.

In the days and weeks before the club restarted, officials reviewed all club activities and came up with changes to the rules for members, making it a requirement to sign up to the changes before rowing.

John Sanderson and his crew of two men and two women were the first members since spring to launch a boat.

North Berwick Rowing Club has almost 100 members and is open to people of all abilities.