The Albany Maritime Foundation is excited to commissioned the construction of the first of two proposed St Ayles Skiffs in a bid to return active rowing to the Albany waterfront. The skiffs will be constructed in the Albany Boatshed on Princess Royal Drive over winter 2024.
The Foundation is backing the project as an ideal community boatbuilding project to celebrate Albany’s Bicentenary in 2026 and in a effort to reinvigorated community rowing on the Albany waterfront. It is planned to complete the first boat in 2024 and to construct the second during 2025.
The St Ayles skiff (pronounced St Isles) is a four-oar (plus one sweep), light rowing boat designed and built for recreational rowing. It was designed by the well-known Australian born marine architect Iain Oughtred with the objective of creating a light, versatile and easily constructed in-shore rowing boat and was inspired by the traditional Fair Isle skiff.
Over 250 boats have been built by communities around the world, from the Scottish coast, to Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, France and Australia. Western Australia now has eleven boats including two in Augusta and two in Denmark. Our plan is for two in Albany. There are active International and Australian St Ayles Skiff Associations.
In many places the building of Skiffs has rekindled a spirit of community. Whether it be the people building the boats, to the teams and groups who row them, St Ayles Skiffs build communities and teams, wherever they make landfall.
With a double-ended hull and relatively wide beam the St. Ayles skiff is a stable and seaworthy boat, suitable for construction by community groups and amateur boatbuilders. The marine plywood planks and frames can be purchased in kit form, together with a plywood mould upon which the hull can be formed. Other parts of the boat, including the rudder, seats (thwarts), keel and gunwales, may be built using suitable timbers. Most of the timber elements, including the planking and frames, are jointed and connected using either epoxy resin or polyurethane glue.
The official launch of the project by the Mayor of Albany is on 29th June as part of the Albany Maritime Festival.
