INVERCLYDE'S coastal rowers made waves at a recent international competition in the Netherlands.

Rowers from the Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club (RWSABC) and Gourock Yacht club teamed up to take part in the SkiffieWorlds 2022 coastal rowing world championships in Kortgene.

While the Inverclyde delegation didn't bring home any medals, the teams set several personal bests and gave their best in every race they took part in during the fortnight-long competition.

RWSABC rowing convener, Karyn Donnachie, told the Tele that the 19 rowers who made the trip out had a terrific time.

She said: "It was an amazing experience for all involved.

"There were more than 1,300 people and 57 clubs taking part from as far across the world as the US and Canada.

"Everyone we met was so friendly and although we didn't get through to any finals our teams gave a great showing.

"It was brilliant to be joined by the guys from Royal Gourock, there's a really strong bond that's formed between our two clubs.

"I think this experience has also awakened a desire in some of our members to push harder on the competitive side of things, while still enjoying getting out on the water.

"We didn't have a team competing in the younger categories unfortunately, but we would love to see more young people in Inverclyde joining us here so they can have the chance to compete next time."

The tournament saw five-man crews of rowers compete in races against each other using St Ayles' skiffs, which are the standard vessel used for coastal rowing.

Two of the Inverclyde team's crews - the men's 50+ 2km team and the 40+ mixed squad - recorded personal bests while competing in the heats.

Joe Heffernan, club secretary at RWSABC, said he had been impressed by the diversity of people competing in the competition.

He added: "What struck me at the awards ceremony at the end of the championships was the sense of shared community.

"The competitors are regular people who have honed their technique but don't have exceptional physical prowess.

"Coastal rowing really is an incredibly inclusive sport."