COASTAL rowers in Musselburgh are looking forward to a busy year ahead.
Membership of the Fisherrow-based Eskmuthe Rowing Club is “soaring” and now stands at 80-plus, including its first under-18s as it seeks to create a youth team to compete alongside adult members in regattas.
The club, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in August last year, started the year with a January 2 expedition to Lochore Meadows in Fife to explore new waters, and then held a mini regatta for club members on January 7.
This involved first lining up the club’s two boats – Honesty and Steedie Falconer – with the mussel shell sculpture on Murdoch’s Green.
Then, on the starter’s call, the boats raced towards Portobello and turned beside the metal marker at Eastfield, then raced back to the mussel sculpture.
The events marked the start of the busiest year yet for the club, said chair Gaynor Allen.
She told the Courier: “Our club is going from strength to strength, with lots of new members joining – and we have a very exciting year ahead.
“Last year was amazing for us as we celebrated our 10th anniversary with a club regatta and exhibition at Musselburgh Museum.
“The celebrations continue as we hope our boatshed at the Back Sands car park will be up and running soon.”
The boatshed is waiting for permission from Scottish Water to be connected to the water supply, before opening its doors to allow repairs to both boats and for new oars and footrests to be made.
The Eskmuthers already have a busy programme of regattas for 2024 and will begin with sprints in Port Seton harbour in April, followed by its own regatta on May 5.
As well as the annual North Berwick regatta in August, the club also plans trips to Ullapool, Arran and possibly Northern Ireland to race.
There are also social trips planned to Ayrshire and Bute, as well as annual favourites like the Bass Rock Sunday and The Tweed Row.
There will be local races with the two Portobello clubs – Eastern Amateur Rowing Club and Row Porty – and regular sessions every weekend and sometimes in the week from Fisherrow Harbour.
Gaynor added: “It’s brilliant to see younger people wanting to take part in this fantastic sport and we now have members aged from 17 to 73!
“It’s a great sport and anyone can join in, have fun and keep fit and healthy, and join a community club and make new friends on and off the water.”
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