Forty rowers from clubs on the Forth and Tay weathered ice flows and blizzards on Kinghorn Loch for a mini ‘Icebreaker’ regatta of St Ayles skiffs, hosted by Kinghorn Coastal Rowing Club.
Five boats and crews from Wormit, Pittenweem, Kinghorn, North Queensferry and Newhaven, took to the water for time trials around the Loch and a final sprint to a finish in front of cheering ‘skiffies’ lining the bank.
All this in near freezing temperatures, a partly iced-up loch and a driving blizzard.
But the Kinghorn Club members kept spirits up and tired bodies warm with an almost endless supply of hot soup and home cooking.
Overall winner was the Newhaven Club boat, Wee Michael.
Anna Cox, a member of the winning crew, said: “What a fantastic day we have had. Cheesy grins all round from our surprised Newhaven crew who had rowed their thermal socks off.
“We are now very proudly in possession of a fantastic glass trophy – hand made by, Susan Mclaren, a very talented member of the Kinghorn club. Many thanks to Kinghorn to inviting us – racing in a blizzard is hugely invigorating.”
Christine Feechan of hosts Kinghorn said: “Everyone had a very jolly afternoon and the general opinion is that we must make it an annual event.”
One tired but smiling skiffy was heard to say: “The snow was indeed the icing on the cake”.
