More than 500 kilograms separates the traditional whaleboat from a St Ayles skiff and both vessels will take to the water this weekend at the South West Regatta.
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Crews will compete on the Hopkins River for the two-day event which features the Victorian St Ayles Skiff Championships on Saturday and the Australian Whale Boat Championships on Sunday.
St Ayles Skiff Community Rowing Association of Australia president Pat Groot is hoping to build on the momentum from last year’s regatta.
“We’ve got 18 crews which is six up from last year so it’s a fantastic growth considering last year was the inaugural Victorian St Ayles Skiff Championships,” Mr Groot said.
He said the whaleboat crews would row three times and the teams with the fastest three accumulative times would progress to the finals.
“We had 12 teams last year and it was a fantastic event and I see no reason it won’t be the same this year.”
He said the St Ayles skiff was lighter and had four rowers and a coxen, while a whaleboat had five rowers and a sweep oar. “The whaleboat is quite heavy and traditionally built with traditional materials. It comes in around 750 kilos. The skiff is made from marine ply and comes in at about 200 kilos.”
Some teams will try their hand at both techniques including a team who have travelled from Franklin in Tasmania to compete.
“Franklin was the first place in Australia who built a St Ayles skiff in 2010 or thereabouts and they want to have a go in a whaleboat this time so they’ll be rowing in both events.”
A highlight will be a novelty event on Saturday between a skiff, a whale boat and the South Sea Dragon team which will race in its dragon boat. “We did that last year and it was incredible. All boats finished within three seconds of each other. It was an amazing finish.”
