Club rows from Estuary to Open Sea
All members are welcome to sign up for the Club Rows, which take place each Wednesday and Sunday. Typically, a row will last 45 minutes to one hour and can comprise one, two or more crews and one or both skiffs. There is a rota of organisers and coxes to cover each event and the aim is to row on the sea at Alnmouth if calm enough, or on the River Aln if not. Hence the timing of each row is determined by the time of the high tide; just in case the river is needed (which unfortunately it has been this year due to the winds). Thanks to Alan for organizing the rotas and to all those volunteering their time.
We have a real cross section signing up to these rows:
- New members just getting into it;
- Members wanting exercise and to sharpen up their technique;
- Old hands wanting some fresh air and gentle fun;
- Rowers who train and race, and also enjoy social rowing.
The Club Rows also enable everyone to try rowing in different seat positions and to steer the skiffs (under the watchful eye of the cox).
Occasionally a social river row evolved into a nature row. Alan was a most accommodating cox modifying one row so that the crew could closely observe Avocets and Herons. We were entertained by the mechanical calls of the Heron chicks as the adults returned to their treetop nests at the heronry in the last remaining pine trees of Aln Wood. On more than one row, the dazzling white plumage of several Little Egrets frequently caught our attention as they too share the fish supply of the River Aln with the Herons. Many species of elegant waders including: Curlew, Redshank, Sandpiper and Oystercatcher, were seen feeding on the rich supply of invertebrates in the River Aln estuary and the banks of its’ brackish waters. Goslings of Greylag and Canada geese and ducklings of Mallard, Eider and Shelduck (affectionately known as Humbugs) were the cheerleaders of spring. The ducklings had scant regard for their safety as they neared the route of the skiff, occasionally disappearing under the skiff only to reappear on the opposite side – much to our relief!
Out in Alnmouth Bay, Gannets and Terns were a sheer delight as we witnessed their precision diving for fish and sand eels respectively. The Razorbills, Guillemots and ever-endearing Puffins were closely encountered just a few hundred metres from the shore. Inquisitive Atlantic Grey Seals were observed (observed us?) on many rows. Upstaged by a pod of, at least six, dolphins (later identified as White Beaked Dolphins due to their distinctive dorsal fin shape). The dolphins certainly disrupted the focus of a race training row. Dolphin and Porpoise sightings have been relatively rare this year, but we keep our eyes peeled.
This is a sample of what ACR has seen and we eagerly await the arrival of our many autumn and winter visitors from further north.
