A Highland rowing club has finally taken to the water after successfully winning funding for vital safety equipment.
Nairn Rowing Club constructed its first skiff, the Dulsie, last autumn and has now secured a £1,000 grant to purchase much-needed life-jackets, flares, radios and anchors.
Club trustee Bob Ferenth said: “It took a real community effort to launch the Dulsie and we are grateful to everyone who helped us in our mission to get on the water in Nairn.
“Our more experienced oarsmen have already been out rowing over the winter months and we are already looking forward to the better weather, when our 50-strong membership looks set to continue to grow.”
A Bags of Help grant from the Forres’ Nairn Road Tesco superstore funded the purchase of the safety equipment needed for its launch.
Nairn Coastal Rowing Club is one of thousands of organisations across Scotland to have received funding through the scheme.
Tony McElroy, head of communications for Tesco in Scotland, said: “Bags of Help has been making waves across Scottish communities since it launched in 2015.
“It really is a fantastic opportunity for local community groups to get the funding they need for their wish list projects and we’re delighted to see Nairn Coastal Rowing Club thriving following its grant award.”
Tesco works in partnership with charity Groundwork and greenspace scotland to deliver its Bags of Help funding scheme, which awards grants to a variety of local projects across the country, with recipients voted for by customers in store.
Nairn Coastal Rowing Club membership is open to people of all abilities and was established in 2017 as interest in the sport of coastal rowing across the north grows.
Their first skiff, Dulsie, was launched in September last year after completion of the seven-month project.
The club merged with Ardersier Boat Club in November 2018.
The club said: “Our vision is to bring people together for fun, fitness and socialising with other coastal communities, offering enjoyable and safe coastal rowing experience.
“We provide appropriate training and all the necessary safety equipment to get onto the water to enjoy the beautiful coastal and inshore water ways in and around Scotland.”
