- Record-breaking SkiffieWorlds 2025 to transform Stranraer into Scotland's coastal rowing capital
- Largest gathering of St Ayles skiffs in history brings 79 boats and 2,000+ competitors to a week-long world championship event with free to attend on-shore festival, from 6-12 July
- On-shore festival programme revealed, with connection between water and wellbeing at the heart of the festivities
More than 2,000 rowers from four continents will descend on Stranraer in south west Scotland next week for what promises to be the most spectacular SkiffieWorlds championship ever staged.
The World Championships for the St Ayles class of coastal rowing boats will make history as the largest gathering of these colourful community-built boats ever assembled, with a record-breaking 79 clubs competing from as far afield as Australia, South Africa, USA and Canada alongside teams from across the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Beyond the competitive action on water, Stranraer's scenic waterfront park will be transformed into a vibrant festival hub with a focus on wellbeing and community, and the full festival programme has just been announced.
The festival programme spans seven days of entertainment, with highlights including the spectacular Opening Ceremony all-boat row-in on Sunday 6th July, live music every evening, and family-friendly activities throughout the week including circus skills, storytelling, and craft workshops. The on-shore festival also includes a Wellness Hub celebrating the connection between water, movement and wellbeing, and offering activities including yoga, sound baths, meditation sessions, creative workshops and even a full moon ceremony.
Wendi Cuffe, Trustee of Stranraer Water Sports Association, said:
"SkiffieWorlds is a world championship rowing event, but it’s about so much more than competition. It's a celebration of community, connection, active participation and coastal heritage. The shoreside festival programme reflects everything that makes this sport special, from the international friendships forged through shared love of the water to the wellbeing benefits that keep people coming back to rowing.
"We're particularly excited about the Wellness Hub, which acknowledges that coastal rowing is as much about mental health and community connection as it is about physical fitness. The record number of entries shows that Stranraer has established itself as the perfect stage for this growing global sport."
The championship racing itself promises to be spectacular, with over 100 races across multiple age categories from Under 17 to Over 60, plus mixed and open competitions. Big screens showing live drone footage and professional commentary will help spectators follow the action across the 2,000-metre multi-lane course. The age range of competitors reflects the inclusive nature of the sport. The youngest competitor is 14 years of age, while the oldest is thought to be 81 years old.
Rebecca Edser, Head of EventScotland, said:
“We are delighted to be supporting Stranraer SkiffieWorlds through EventScotland’s National Events Funding Programme and it’s great to see the event offer on land as well as on the water. Events like the SkiffieWorlds help encourage economic growth for the region and elements like the Wellness Hub bring further physical, mental and social benefits to the local community.”
SkiffieWorlds 2025 builds on the outstanding success of the 2019 championship, also held in Stranraer, which generated an estimated £3.5-4.0 million for the local economy and attracted around 30,000 visitors over the week. The 2025 event is expected to have an even greater economic impact given the increased participation.
The event showcases Stranraer's ongoing transformation as a major water sports destination, with construction currently underway on a £6.7 million Water Sports Hub scheduled to open in summer 2026.
SkiffieWorlds 2025 is hosted by Stranraer Water Sports Association on behalf of St Ayles Skiff International. The event is sponsored by EcoGen and funded by EventScotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council, South of Scotland Enterprise, Kilgallioch Community Fund and the Galloway Association of Glasgow.
More information about SkiffieWorlds can be found at www.skiffieworlds2025.co.uk
ENDS
Photos: Attached photos shows rowers preparing for SkiffieWorlds (correct) 2025 in Stranraer (Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland) from 6-12 July (2025), which will see a record-breaking 79 clubs and 2,000 plus competitors from four continents compete in the largest ever gathering of community-built St Ayles (correct) coastal rowing boats. The World Championship combines competitive racing with a week-long on-shore festival celebrating the connection between water and wellbeing. The event will open with an all-boat row-in of the 79 hand built, brightly coloured wooden rowing boats that are inspired by traditional Scottish fishing boats.
Photography for Stranraer Water Sports Association from: Colin Hattersley Photography - www.colinhattersley.com - cphattersley@gmail.com - 07974 957 388.
PR Enquiries: Lorna Young 07872 492 283 or lorna@indigowords.co.uk Cat Thomson 07771 364 522 or catthomsonwrites@gmail.com
Notes for Editors:
- SkiffieWorlds is the World Championship for the St Ayles Class of coastal rowing boat and takes place every three years.
- The St Ayles skiff is a 22-foot fixed-seat rowing boat designed specifically for community building and coastal rowing. Each boat is typically built by the community that rows it.
- Stranraer previously hosted SkiffieWorlds in 2019, which attracted approximately 30,000 visitors over the week-long event.
- There are now more than 350 St Ayles skiff boats registered around the world, making it one of the fastest-growing water sports globally.
- St. Ayles coastal rowing, inspired by traditional Scottish fishing boats, emerged in 2009 from a collaboration between the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Jordan Boats, and renowned boat designer Iain Oughtred. The project aimed to revitalise community involvement in coastal regattas, echoing historical traditions of Fife miners' rowing and sailing.
- Construction on Stranraer's new £6.7m Water Sports Hub began in February 2025 and it is expected to open in summer 2026. The project is funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, Dumfries and Galloway Council, South of Scotland Enterprise, the Holywood Trust and sportScotland. The facility will help establish Stranraer as a major water sports destination, training facility, and events hub.
EventScotland Notes to Editors:
EventScotland, part of VisitScotland - the national tourism and events organisation for Scotland, works to make the destination the perfect stage for events by securing and supporting an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events.
It provides funding opportunities and access to resources and information to develop the industry. By raising Scotland’s profile as a leading events destination, we hope to attract more visitors to our shores.
It supports the delivery of Scotland’s National Events Strategy 2024-2035 which aims to build on the events industry’s many achievements to date.
The strategy refresh has been shaped by, Scottish Government, VisitScotland’s Industry and Events Directorate, Scotland’s Events Industry Advisory Group (EIAG), Local Authorities, COSLA, Trade Union representatives, and those who responded to the consultation process.
Find out more about Scotland's National Events Strategy 2024-2035.
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