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The East Coast Rowing Council is the regional organisation of the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation on Ireland's East coast, representing the sport of Coastal and ocean rowing. As per local tradition, coastal rowing is undertaken by crews of four with one sweep oar each, and a coxwain, in wooden clinker-built boats. Formed in 1970, the ECRC has the task of formalising the rules, organising regatta dates and judging any disputes between members. Rules were laid down as to sizes and weights of skiffs to make races fairer. The ECRC represents clubs in the counties of Dublin and Wicklow.

East Coast Tradition

Main article: Coastal and ocean rowing § Great Britain and Ireland

Clinker skiff type boats were once one of the most numerous type of working boats found along the eastern seaboard of Ireland. They were recorded in 1874 by historian E.W. Holdsworth, where he noted that ‘The smaller boats employed for the line-fishery are of the same style as the Norway yawl, sharp at both ends.’.

Skiff racing has its origins in the occupation of hobbling. Hobblers were freelance pilots, and competition was strong to be the first to board the approaching ships. Not only did the successful hobblers receive payment to pilot the ships into port but they were also awarded the contract for discharging/loading those ships whilst in port.

The skiffs worked mainly between Lambay Island just north of Dublin Bay and Wicklow Head where they required considerable skill on behalf of the oarsmen. The long tradition of rowing is now carried on through the rowing clubs affiliated to East Coast Rowing Council. These clubs can be found around the old Dublin pilot stations of Ringsend & East Wall in Dublin Port, Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey, Bray, Greystones, Wicklow and Arklow.

Member Clubs

The current members of the ECRC are:

• St. Patrick’s Rowing Club, Ringsend
• Stella Maris Rowing Club, Ringsend
• St. Michael’s Rowing Club, Dún Laoghaire
• Dalkey Rowing Club
• Bray Rowing Club
• Greystones Rowing Club
• Wicklow Rowing Club
• Arklow Rowing Club

Racing

Each year the ECRC organises a summer schedule of regattas at clubs from Ringsend to Arklow where crews of all ages compete during the regatta. ECRC clubs also regularly compete in the bi-annual ‘Celtic Challenge’, a race of over 90 miles from Arklow to Aberystwyth in Wales as well as other long distance races such as the annual Ocean to City race in Cork, or the Kish lighthouse row in Dublin. Clubs can be regularly seen training at sea along the East Coast between April and September each year. Present day racing skiffs reflect their traditional origins, and are twenty-five foot long, clinker built, double-enders.

2009 Regatta Dates

The provisional dates for the 2009 ECRC affiliated clubs are:

Host	Location	Date
ECRC Invitational & Stella Maris	Ringsend	23rd/24th May
Greystones	Wicklow	7th June
Dalkey	Sandycove Hbr	14th June
St. Patrick's	Ringsend	28th June
St. Michael's	West Pier, Dun Laoghaire Hbr.	12th July
Bray	Bray	26th July
Wicklow	Wicklow	3rd August
Arklow	Arklow	T.B.A.