A bright warm Sunday morning greeted the assembled crews and onlookers on the centreboard beach preparatory to the christening and launch of the St Ayles skiff.
Three boats and crews from Royal Freshwater Bay YC, a boat and crew each from Augusta and Denmark were in attendance and more importantly the South of Perth YC bosun’s team.
The St Ayles skiff was piped to the beach by Greg Power and the formal part of the morning was provided by master of ceremonies Vice Commodore Dave Ewart with a number of welcoming speeches from Commodore Troy Daglish and Past Commodore John Midolo who had initiated the concept of the St Ayles skiff project and spoke briefly about the handling of the project.
Patron Colin Cowden in company with his wife Judy took the honours of both naming the St Ayles Skiff and pouring the traditional dram of a good whisky over the bow of the newly christened Valkyrie while the crew of SoPYC bosuns were quite happy to finish off the tot of whisky left in the mug. The rest of the assembled guests were asked to participate in the toast with drams of whisky served to them by the bosuns.
Once the boat made it into the water the crew took her for a run to show off their rowing style to the watching teams on the waters edge and then the rest of the rowers and their boats took to the water to join in the 5 km sojourn up the river toward the Narrows.
The row was also a part of a world wide five km row for all the St Ayles skiffs and it was a pleasure to have the other boats join us in the morning. After the skiffs set off, the onlookers were invited in to have coffee and tea in the beachside marquee with a grand selection of slices and biscuits from the members and it was quite clear that the home made Portuguese tarts were the star of the show. They disappeared as soon as they were put out.
On the return of the rowers, a pleasant barbecue lunch was set out under the trees for the visitors by the bosuns club and the murmurs of delight by the assembled rowers and friends paid credit to the work of the BBQ cook and his willing assistants. The local crews paid attention to the food and declared that if we were setting the standard, they had better do just as well when we joined them in return.
Once the tables were cleared away and the boats packed down, it was agreed that it was a very successful morning and we are looking forward to the build of the second skiff.
Many thanks by the way to Rear Commodore Regatta Vicki Blankensee and Sailing Vice Captain Wendy Jorgenson who helped shift the tables out of the sun at the last minute as the original placing of the tables had us caught out by the shifting morning sun.
Look forward to the next boat going into the water.
Rick Steuart for the Bosuns club.
