St Andrews rowing club boats and trailer worth £100,000 written off in motorway crash

A boat club based in Edinburgh has launched a fundraiser to replace equipment that was destroyed in a serious motorway crash.

St Andrews Boat Club, which is volunteer led, was involved in a crash while returning from an Easter training camp in Chester.

No one was injured, but five boats and a trailer were written off. The club has said the equipment will cost upwards in £100,000 to replace.

St Andrew Boat Club has said that they are now having to limit the number of people who can train and race within the club.

A statement read: “We are the members of St Andrew Boat Club, fundraising to replace five boats and a trailer that were written off in a recent motorway accident. On our way back from an Easter training camp in Chester, our club trailer was involved in a serious crash. Thankfully, no one was injured, but several boats and the trailer itself were written off.

“We are a volunteer-run community club, powered by people giving their time and expertise to make rowing accessible to everyone. Our motto, “Rowing for all,” is at the heart of everything we do and right now, that’s at risk.

“The boats we have lost were used daily by all members of our community that includes people aged 12 to 80 and complete beginners discovering rowing for the first time to athletes competing at local and national level. Losing them has had a huge impact across our entire club.”

More than £3,000 has been raised since the GoFundMe was launched.

“Our rowing community has been incredibly supportive since the crash, but we cannot rely indefinitely on the generosity of other clubs, nor can we cover these costs ourselves”, the statement added.

“Without the trailer and boats, we will have to limit the number of people who can train and race from beginners racing locally through to our elite athletes competing at the highest National level – including Henley Royal Regatta.

“Insurance will only cover a fraction of the loss. Replacing the five boats and trailer, even with second-hand equipment, will cost around >£100,000.”