The final day of competition brought some exciting results. A weather change made conditions more difficult with plenty of jabble. The ladies rowed hard together to pull in 10th in the women's open heat. The men borrowed a young experienced rower from the strongest Club Coigach, and toughed out the wind and water conditions to finish 6th...enough to qualify for the most exciting final event of the day, the men's open. At 3.30 the crowd gathered to watch the Coigach Community Rowing Club win in around 12 minutes, and the Franklin team improve their time by 12 seconds to set a new Australian record of 13 mins and 24 seconds. Waltzing Matilda wafted across the beach with the words "as they rowed right through their billabong" causing the most interest. The club of Port Seton and Cockenzie, Boatie Blest, which was also the name of the Skiff that Tasmania borrowed, sang along on the beach with  the final sentence ringing true..."You'll see St Ayles Skiffs as never seen before". The windup awards and speeches showed the passion and community interest that has evolved with community rowing. More Scottish towns have signed up to build a St Ayles Skiff and there are more things planned for the future. Women On Water, Tasmania were presented with a hand stitched St Ayles Skiff by Boatie Blest that each rower had sewn and there were announcements about the Hobart Wooden Boat Festival being the 2015 venue for a first St Ayles Skiff regatta. The Tasmanian crew were halfway in the overall points allocation which was an incredible effort and the Scottish clubs were impressed, looking forward to future interaction. An evening Ceilidh was a wonderful ending to a well run programme, with the Australian crew swapping badges and T shirts, email addresses and club contact numbers. Meeting Ian Outred, the designer of the Skiff, in the street on the walk home to Arkle reinforced the positive future of this form of community rowing in Australia. Until 2015...

With a trip south to Gairloch, passing near the magnificent scenic lochs, islands, mountains, waterfalls and quaint villages, it was a wonderful reward for all those hard training hours on the Huon River. Blisters, aches and general tiredness were all forgotten as local treats and treasures were found for the communal evening meal at Arkle, 16 Market St Ullapool, temporary base for the Australian flag and team. On their return, the ladies again prepared for a new and exciting spectator event, the 250m sprint, from the wee pier to the harbour. Again, aiming to beat 100 seconds, the chaotic sprung loaded race saw the ladies almost beat a men's team, and cross the sail finishing line in 97 seconds. Cheers from the crowd, hotel patrons overlooking the water and a 3 year old Scottish boy shouting Come on Tasmania were recorded by filmmaker Wendy Brown. Team 2 in the mixed sprints did as well, if not better, bringing in a first and another good time under 100 seconds. Haggis, locally smoked salmon, farm produced pork sausages, and local mashed potato and swede was a fitting reward for great participation. Ian Outred, designer of the St Ayles Skiff that the WOW group had built in Franklin, and the reason for the world championships, was also one of the competitors.

More news from Jane Johnson, pics Wendy Brown

Day 3 at the Tasmanian Embassy based at Arkle in Ullapool is actually the first day of competition. 12.30 and the nervous pair of Huon Valley representatives combined with the Rowporty pair Patsy and Pam in the Over60's. With Tim Brown as cox, the takeoff from near the ferry terminal was perfect. Leading from the start, the crossing of the channel in good time and equally good return meant the first medal for the team...Wowporty..silver presented at the 3pm medal ceremony. An hour later and the crew of Martin Riddle as cox, Tim as stroke, Jane, Shane and Marguerite, charged into the mixed over 50's
The sea breeze was in making the crossing wild and wet but the team worked hard to come in halfway through the field, qualifying for the final scheduled for Thursday...huge cheers from the beach and a new first for Franklin, breaking the 15min barrier for the first time ever. The final event for the day was a rescheduled long row of 6.4km for the women, which was cancelled the day before due to thick fog. This time the course was set south across Loch Broom and returning into the stiff sea breeze. Deb made her debut in the team, with the reward of a proud third placing. Berwick and Ullapool had crew in their thirties, so a great result for the average age of the Boatie Blest crew...Tasmania..of around 50. The colours of the Cockenzie club who had built the Skiff matched the Aussies so there was huge support and cheers from the beach for Boatie Blest. The incredible Loch scenery made the tired crew forget the aches, and the first cider at the Arch Inn overlooking the water slipped down beautifully....more tomorrow.

Day 1