Scotland's bumper domestic summer regatta season continues today, when Lochwinnoch club Castle Semple play host to an event that sets new entry records, with 222 crews taking part.
The Clyde Muirshiel Castle Semple Regatta breaks further new ground with crews from the USA and Germany being among 27 clubs taking part.
The German entry is a women's sculler from the Rheinfelden club, while the American connection, from Austin Rowing Club in Texas, is the latest in a comradeship forged in sad circumstances.
The Austin crew consists of ex-patriate Scot Charles Simpson whose double sculling partner. Charles is the son of former Scottish coach and umpire Maureen Simpson and the late Charlie Simpson of Clydesdale, who died while on assignment in Texas for his employer some years ago.
Since then Scottish veterans from both Clydesdale and Castle have travelled each year to take part in the Heart of Texas Regatta and now, the competitive traffic has become two-way.
The Regatta, supported for the third time by Renfrewshire Enterprise, has also received entries from more regular supporters, the north-east of England clubs Tyne and St Leonard's School of Durham. Seven Scottish university clubs are in action.
Away from home, the Castle Semple men's squad has been successful already this season in locations as far apart as London and Ghent in Belgium, and two of their most successful outfits, the eight and coxed four, will be in action today.
The first of 80-plus races starts at 10.0am and the programme continues till tea-time without a break.
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