During it’s time, the Ythan Raft Race was the largest assembled Raft Race in Europe, often attracting well over 200 teams who competed for a range of coveted prizes and trophies. The Annual event ran without a break for 22 years and the impeccable organisational arrangements were overseen by Bill Smith, an inspirational art teacher from Ellon Academy in Aberdeenshire.
The River Ythan flows through the town of Ellon as it wends its way to the North Sea via the Newburgh estuary. The course of the race ran approximately 5 miles from the bridge in the town centre of Ellon to the bridge at Logie Buchan.
During the 22 years the race was held, Lodge St. Olaf were represented 10 times, and became the crew to beat in the categories for the most creative raft design. It’s just as well they put their efforts into building a raft that could win prizes for it’s looks, as they were never in the running to win any awards for their speed. Always at the tail end of the race, their most memorable defeat was the year the finished in second last place, only narrowly beating the local girl guides!
During their 10 year reign as kings of the Ythan, the crew changed from year to year with dozens of St. Olaf men helping to build the profile of freemasonry in the community, and creating a fine example of how the fraternity can integrate and enhance community activities in a significant way.
The 1st themes for the raft design were nautical, from a Mississippi Paddle, a Chinese Junk, a Peterhead fishing trawler and Noah’s Ark. Other themes included Slains Castle, with the crew turned out in vampire costumes, and Thunderbird 4 created a stir with the crew members in full thunderbird costume.
The raft race only continued for another couple of years after Lodge St. Olaf hung up it’s paddles, I’m sure the two events were entirely unconnected. Those crew members who had taken part over the period were finding the additional 10 years did make a difference to stamina levels; after winning our trophy 10 years in a row, we felt it was a good time to quit while we were still ahead, the only time we could ever quit the raft race whilst ahead!
It should also be mentioned that our prize was a trophy donated by the Lodge to be presented to the best decorated raft in memory of one of our former crew members Bill Stewart who was sadly taken from us at the age of 36 years. The pride the lodge took in competing for that trophy never faltered, and the pleasure of seeing it hung back on it’s hook in the lodge rooms year after year was enjoyed by the whole lodge. The raft race ceased in 1997 after which organiser Bill Smith donated the Bill Stewart Trophy to the Lodge where it hangs on its hook to this very day. Check out our Raft Race Roll of Honour.
The Spirit of St Olaf The Spirit of St. Olaf raft marked the final outing of the lodge in the Ythan The summer of 1995 marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Ythan Raft Race, as Lodge St. Olaf entered its final years of participation. After dominating the...
A Man Called Horace Over the years, Lodge St. Olaf has been fortunate to count several talented entertainers among its members. In the early 1990s, Lodge members Jim Gardiner and Gordon Mackay performed as a novelty band called “A Man Called Horace.” Their musical...
The Cruden Bay City Glitter Band The Ythan Raft Races were always a highlight for Lodge St. Olaf members and their families, offering camaraderie and entertainment on race day. However, the lead-up to the event often proved just as enjoyable, filled with laughter,...
The Booze Brothers One of Lodge St. Olaf’s most iconic and unforgettable entries in the Ythan Raft Race came the year they transformed into the “Booze Brothers,” a playful homage to the cult classic film The Blues Brothers. Staying true to the movie’s quirky charm,...
Thunderbirds In 1991, Lodge St. Olaf returned to their favored nautical themes, this time taking inspiration from the iconic 1960s television series Thunderbirds. Their entry for the Ythan Raft Race featured the underwater craft Thunderbird 4 as the centerpiece, and...
Slains Castle 1990 Saw the boys from St. Olaf move away from the nautical themesContinuing their tradition of creative, community-inspired themes, Lodge St. Olaf shifted focus in 1990 to tackle a local issue close to the hearts of Cruden Bay residents. Up until now,...
Noah's Ark In 1989, Lodge St. Olaf once again showcased their flair for creativity and community spirit with their entry in the Ythan Raft Race: a striking representation of Noah’s Ark. True to the biblical tale, the raft was an ambitious construction, featuring...
Chinese Junk In 1988, Lodge St. Olaf returned to the high seas of imagination, this time with an ambitious and striking representation of a Chinese Junk. Staying true to their penchant for intricate detail, the crew poured countless hours into crafting a vessel that...
Crew Gordon MackayTom PetrieBarrie HarperDoug ShealJim GardinerBill StewartBill MurrayMartin DaleyGordon AndrewsThe Trawler Following the excitement of their first appearance in the Ythan Raft Race the previous year, members of Lodge St. Olaf approached the 1987 race...
Crew Gordon MackayDoug ShealMartin DaleyGordon AndrewsJim GardnerJim StewartThe Mississippi Paddle Steamer The Maiden Voyage: Lodge St. Olaf’s First Raft Race, 1986 The summer of 1986 marked a memorable moment for Lodge St. Olaf, when the Lodge first ventured into the...