St Andrews Rowing Club
Our second boat, Blue Bay, was the result of a members’ survey; the sand in the bay gets covered by the blue sea. As a result, the hull was painted blue. Although this was kit 200, adding Double Century would have made for too long a name.
To complete our ‘fleet’ we have a Wemyss, skiff, launched October 2018 (Puffin). Both Blue Bay and Puffin were built in a local garage that the club continues to use for maintenance and storage. Thanks to the Fife Coast & Countryside Trust we also have limited storage at the East Sands.
Due to the driving force of Julie and Clayton Hardisty, and with the support of members, the club has become enthusiastically involved with ‘adaptive rowing’. The aim is to give those with disabilities the opportunity to row and integrate into the club. With the support of the Harbour Trust, we have the use of a hoist when needed. Blue Bay was modified so that a supportive seat could be fitted when required. Our adaptive rowers have greatly assisted Julie in producing information on ‘adaptive rowing’ that will be available to all clubs. St Andrews University has also been instrumental in developing this project.
Inclusiveness is an important tenet of our club and we aim to cater for the recreational rower as well as those who are competitive. It is working well, with each group supporting the other should the need arise. This is perhaps due to the common thread between the groups, that of, a love of the sea, fresh air, exercise, teamwork and companionship. This, we think, makes us more than just a rowing club. The ‘Worlds’ highlighted our ethos. The ‘over 60s’ crews were a mix of competitive and social rowers, all of whom wished to enjoy the experience of the event. The two groups, being retired, came together on a Friday morning between 10 and 12 and trained, albeit light-heartedly.
The session centred around a fun row that provided good exercise, followed by coffee and cake. The provision of the cake was on a rota basis and could be shop bought or home baked. If the weather was good, they would row and have coffee and cake, if poor weather, just coffee and cake. If sea conditions prevented the row, the coffee and cake would be preceded by an energetic row on the grass! In one session, eight lined up on the grass ‘rowing’ in unison, even the cox! It provided much entertainment to the passing public as well as themselves. Post the ‘Worlds’, the sessions have continued and any member of any age can come along.

To the memory of Martin Barkla – boat builder, social member and a gentleman
St Andrews to East Sands
St Andrews got its name, according to the legend, when some bones of St Andrew were brought to the town of Kilrymont in about the 8th century; subsequently the town’s name was changed. It is said that the relics were brought to the town by a bishop, St Rule (or Regulus), both names prominently associated with the town. The town became recognised as the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland, with pilgrims coming to visit the shrine of St Andrew. This status ended with the reformation.
Rowing towards the harbour, the castle ruins come into view. There has been a castle on this site certainly since the end of the 12th Century. It became the residence of the Archbishops of St Andrews, one of whom, Cardinal David Beaton, was responsible for the execution of the protestants Patrick Hamilton and George Wishart mentioned earlier. However, in July 1546, he was to meet his own end at the hands of George’s friends who broke into the castle and killed him. During the Scottish Wars of Independence the castle was attacked, being held by the English on occasions and it needed to be rebuilt several times. The current ruins are based on the rebuild of 1400.
As the boats reach the entrance to the harbour, the cathedral is seen, dominated by St Rules Tower and its protective perimeter wall. Built in 1160 on the site of an existing church, the cathedral was at the time one of the most important in Europe, let alone Scotland. By the 17th century, post the reformation, the building was in ruins with some of its stone being used for the harbour and other buildings in the town.
As we row past the harbour pier, the East Sands and our club ‘home’ comes into view. After the baton is formally handed over, and both the Broughty Ferry and the St Andrews boats recovered from the water, the two clubs have the opportunity to socialise, all part of coastal rowing. With the drivers having consumed cups of tea and others something a little stronger, Broughty Ferry trailer their boats away and St Andrews prepare for the next day’s row.