Our Story

21st century

Blyth Community Rowing Club formed in 2014 as part of a town wide initiative to bring rowing back to Blyth after an abscence of 50 plus years. Members of the community built their first St Ayles skiff in a vacant shop unit in the Keel Row Shopping Centre. As part of the Blyth Maritime Festival 'Crofton' was paraded down the town’s high street alongside a full marching band and floats before being launched for her maiden voyage.

After the success of 'Crofton' BCRC built another skiff in conjunction with Blyth Academy and 'Bebside' was launched in the summer of 2016. All this was made possible with funding from Olympic Legacy money and the support of:

Blyth Town Council
Steve Bradley, Blyth Town Team
Royal Northumberland Yacht club
James Andrew, British Rowing
Port of Blyth
The local community of Blyth

Flat pack cut out planks of wood ready for the build

Stem attached to the frame and keel

Bear hull of Crofton in shopping unit

5 club members in the shell trying the boat for size

Crofton getting lifted off a lorry ready for launch

Crofton being craned into the water

Crofton is on the water - First row

Crofton on a misty River Blyth

All girl crew going a row past the Blyth Quayside

Diggers preparing the ground for the new boat store

Steel framework for the new boat store going up

Old lifeboat station in the foreground and Piers in the background

Club members 2018 outside the boathouse next to Crofton and Bebside