A skiff is a traditional clinker built rowing boat with fixed seats originally used by ferrymen or pleasure boats on the Thames.
Our racing skiffs are are the racehorse of the breed and are used for side-by-side sprint racing, timed long distance head races as well as training and exploring the river.
Racing skiffs …
- Singles for one sculler
- Coxed doubles for two scullers.
Sculled with two oars, rather than rowed with one and have fixed seats with an adjustable foot stretcher.
The oars are held in a gate bordered by two thole pins. The oar stays in place with the aid of a leather button, which is inside the skiff, while also ensuring that the oar feathers easily and goes through the water at the correct height.
All skiffs are made to the same specification and are always made in matched pairs or threes. All races are conducted in matched boats. This ensures crews win on skiffing ability, not because they may have a lighter, newer or technically innovative boat.
A typical sprint course is some 600-700 metres in length with the course taking 3-4 minutes to complete, depending on the competence of the crew. By contrast, the long distance races can vary from 25 to 40 minutes in duration.
Events are offered in Singles or Doubles for Men, Women and Mixed crews. Scullers start with a status of Entrant and with sufficient wins at each status, progress to Novice through to Senior. Scullers have a separate status for each of the three disciplines; Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Races are also offered for Juniors and Veterans with handicaps on time based on the age of the crew.
The highlight of the skiffing season is the Skiff Championships Regatta held at Henley in August. The sport is administered by the Skiff Racing Association.
… but, is perhaps best known as the boat used by Jerome K. Jerome’s, Three Men in a Boat