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At the 2016 SCRA AGM in October, 36 clubs out of a membership of 52 were represented. They voted 27-9 in favour of the following motion:

"St.Ayles skiffs have a great variety of oars and oarlock systems and feedback to the committee on balance shows a desire to move toward a more tightly specified design so that all rowers are competing with the same effective equipment. We propose that an international group be set up, to consult widely and propose a common design for oars and oarlock, to be trialled over the 2017 season with a view to reporting on any recommendations (including any recommendations for any transitional arrangements) to National Associations by October 2017."

An SCRA committee meeting on 22/11/16 agreed that existing club oars and oarlocks would not be made obsolete in the medium term. It was agreed the standard design would not necessarily have to meet current measurement rules, e.g. for flat blades or wooden oarlocks. A budget was set aside to pay for prototypes. The following remit was agreed:

An International group should:

• Be formed to represent every area where the class has members

• Gather views from clubs about what priorities they would have for a standard design

• Summarise the desirable qualities so we know what we are aiming at

• Gather information about oars and oarlock systems which work well

• Eliminate unacceptable solutions i.e. carbon tubes, nylon gates? Hollow shafts?

A smaller working group should:

• Optimise the remaining acceptable solutions

• Make single prototypes, test and compare

• Make a set of 4 of the most promising prototype and test in regattas

• Bring the best solution to the 2017 AGM for the Association to rule on.

Topher Dawson, 22/11/16