The Single

The single scull, suspended from the ceiling, was purchased by Jim Skidmore in October 1961, from Sargent & Burton boat builders in Sydney, for $448.37 (including packaging and transport to Sydney airport) plus air freight of $9.02 to Essendon airport (total: $457.39).

Jim's achievements over the years in this boat were as follows:

1962: Winter Sculling series - 5 mile fastest time

13/10/1962: 2½ mile Championship, Lower Yarra (from the mouth of the Maribyrnong river to just below Spencer Street bridge) - 1st place

29/12/1962: Yarrawonga regatta - Senior sculls 1st place

1/1/1963: Rutherglen regatta - Senior sculls 1st place

1963: Winter Sculling series - ¼ mile dash 1st place

1964: Winter Sculling series - 5 mile fastest time

25/1/1965: Albert Park regatta - Senior sculls 1st place

6/3/1965: Barwon regatta - Senior sculls 1st place

27/3/1965: Scotch Mercantile regatta - Senior sculls 1st place

1966: Winter Sculling series - 5 mile scratch and fastest time

1976: Winter Sculling series - Herald Shield; Equal winner of series

1979: Winter Sculling series - 5 mile handicap. Boat collision (It doesn't pay to run head-on into an eight coached by Lachie McPherson at new cut corner!). Jim required 24 stitches to his backside (the meaty part, luckily). Hence the cartoon by a friend of club member Dick Barnes. Restoring the boat to racing condition took a lot of work, with the help of several club members. The keel and riggers were the only parts not damaged.

1987: Round Island 8000m - 1st place

The boat was privately owned and only used by Jim Skidmore over the years, until it was presented to YYRC for permanent display in the new boathouse in 2005.

Rowing with YYRC

Membership
Learn to Row
Development
Junior
Youth
Novice
Intermediate
Masters
Recreational

Membership Please refer to the YYRC Contacts and look around this website if you require more information. Read more...

Learn Racing and Recreational Rowing Ever wanted to try rowing? Yarra Yarra Rowing Club offers introductory courses on demand, spread over two days, from $150 per head. Form a crew with your friends, or come and make new ones. Whether you want to row competitively or just socially, the YYRC Learn to Row course will teach you the basics of boats, rowing, and most importantly - timing and balance! Read more...

Development Squad Male and female beginners, or existing rowers who need to resharpen their skills, row in our Development Squad. Read more...

Junior Squad YYRC is one of the few clubs in the State to run a junior program typically for 15-17 year old male and females. Members do not have to have previous rowing experience. Read more...

Youth Squad The Youth Squad is aimed at 17-23 year old experienced rowers with the objective of racing throughout the summer season in C-B events. This is a coached squad perfect for school leavers and university students wishing to continue their rowing but with no desire to train at the elite level. Read more...

Novice Squad This is a racing squad broken into two groups (men and women), aiming to compete over the summer regatta season in Grade D and C events, and is generally for rowers with 1+ years rowing experience. Read more...

Intermediate Squad This is a racing squad broken into two groups (men and women), aiming to compete over the summer regatta season predominantly in A-B events, and is generally for rowers with 3+ years of rowing experience. Read more...

Masters Squad Masters rowing is not a large segment of our program; however, we do cater for a range of masters’ level rowing for men and women with the aim of competing throughout the masters’ regatta season in April-May and the occasional summer regatta. Read more...

Recreational Rowing Recreational rowing is a small piece of our rowing program but where possible the club can offer experienced members use of boats for leisurely rows. Most recreational rowers are former racing members who have taken a step back from competition. Read more...

Yarra Yarra Rowing Club

YYRC
Est. 1871
1929
Transport
Bottles
The Single
Riverland 8
Yabbie
1st 100 Years
2nd 100 Years

Yarra Yarra Rowing Club YYRC, established in 1871, has a proud tradition of being run solely by volunteers. We aim to develop members rowing abilities and uphold a strong position in the rowing community through competition. Read more...

140 Years Established in July 1871 as the Early Closing Association Rowing Club, and the Club has been continuously active from premises beside the Yarra River for over 140 years. The Club has a great heritage, which has been enhanced since 1981 when women were formally enrolled as members. Read more...

1929 - New shed, new fleet An article in Melbourne's Leader newspaper, September 7th 1929, reported the opening of a new YYRC boathouse. Read more...

Boat transportation throughout the years Read more...

"Bottles", the Double Scull in the Ceiling Perhaps the most striking feature of the YYRC boathouse is the two beautiful old wooden boats suspended from the ceiling upstairs. If you've ever wondered where they came from, here's the story of "Bottles", the double scull... Read more...

Riverland 8 When the rowers of Yarra Yarra Rowing Club hear the clamor of Riverland's patrons, it usually means the hard work is done and they're about to turn around and head back to the landing stage. Read more...

The Yabbie used to appear as Yarra Yarra's seasonal newsletter. In the 'olden days' of paper, typewriter and mimeograph machines (remember the alcohol smell?) the Yabbie used to be put out as regular as clockwork. It was a valuable communication tool keeping everyone up to date. Read more...

1871 to 1971 : Year - Patron - President - Captain - Secretary - Treasurer Read more...

1971 to Present : Year - Patron - President - Captain - Secretary - Treasurer Read more...