A beautiful, brand-new St Ayles skiff, perhaps the first of many of her kind

on the river Dart, left Dartmouth in the early hours of Sunday morning.

This was the start of the long journey north to Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, to compete in the ‘Skiffieworld’ World Champ­ionships organised by the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association.

The ‘Felton Flyer’, as the skiff is called, is named in honour of Mike Felton, ­former landlord of the Steam Packet Inn, Kingswear, who generously supported ­rowing on the Dart for many years before his death. The craft was hand-built painstakingly by a group of rowing enthusiasts led by Steve Horwood in a barn lent to them by Ed Jones of Fountain Violet Farm.

Steve described the build process as ‘a challenging learning journey’ that he is ‘incredibly proud to have completed’. It was, he said, ‘nerve-racking, difficult at times, always interesting… and I would love to build more of these lovely boats’.

Competition at the worlds will be friendly but fierce, with 50 boats from all over the world, including Tasmania and the US, battle for glory and silverware

in a variety of classes over a two-kilometre, 15-lane course.

The Flyer’s crew, who are all members of Blades Rowing Group, only had a week to practise rowing the new boat, but given the experience that many have of rowing and competing in gigs, seine boats and regatta whalers, hopes were high of finals places at the least.

Bringing home to Dartmouth the gorgeous ­silver skiff winner’s trophy is a big ask, but the possibility is always there.

St Ayles skiffs are ­wooden-hulled and similar to gigs in appearance, with four rowers and a cox. They are light, fast and graceful.

People will be able to see the craft for themselves when the Flyer returns home – hopefully festooned with medals – to Coronation Park on Sunday, August 1, and when she is officially launched later in the month.