By

David Carnduff

Pictures by

Daren Borzynski

The Clyde at Dumbarton witnessed a unique spectacle at the weekend when an armada of boats took part in the biggest open water rowing race to be held in Scotland.

More than 400 rowers in 75 boats took part in the inaugural "Castle to Crane" race, rowing 13 miles from Dumbarton Castle to the Finnieston Crane.

The event - said to be the biggest fleet of rowing boats assembled in Scotland since the Battle of Largs in 1263 - drew competitors from all corners of the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.

The race was organised by social enterprise Gal Gael as part of its Clydebuilt Festival, with input from the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association and its member clubs, particularly Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club at Greenock and Glasgow Coastal Rowing Club.

This week, organisers hailed the festival a huge success and said it was hoped the race would become an annual fixture.

Alasdair Watson, workshop manager at Gal Gael, told the Reporter: "This was a pilot event and we are hoping to do it again. The festival had around 4,000 visitors during the weekend and I would like to see it becoming an annual event - despite all the hard work involved.

"The race was well received by all the rowers who expressed delight at being able to come to the Clyde for the event.

"It was marvellous to see the Clyde so busy. For too long it has been used as a dumping ground, so it's good to see the tide turning and more people getting out onto the water."

Onshore observers were impressed by the range of boats in the fleet.

The biggest vessel was Gal Gael’s flagship, the 30ft “Orcuan”, a replica of a Scottish galley known as a Birlinn.

Also taking part were the largest ever fleet of St Ayles skiffs, six Celtic longboats from Wales, five Currachs - light "skin on frame boats" from the South of Ireland - and Shetland yoals from Orkney and Lerwick.

The weekend festival, which had activities, workshops and events on and off the water, included the launch of Gal Gael's new West Coast skiff and the tall ship's new captain's gig.

Premier prize from the race, the Median Trophy, was awarded to Royal West crew from Greenock for their effort in making the race a success for visiting crews.

The race incorporated the Scottish open women’s pilot gig championships, won by the crew from Penryn, Cornwall, racing in their varnished gig Morlader.

Overall winner was the North Berwick skiff John B with a time of 1hr 54min 38sec. MYC Portmadog from Wales were second at 1.56.25 and third were St Ayles Anstruther with a time of 1.57.37.