The
Cornish pilot gig is a six-oared
rowing boat, built of Cornish
narrow leaf elm, 32 feet long
with a beam of four feet ten inches.
It
is recognised as one of the first
shore based lifeboats that went
to vessels in distress, with recorded
rescues going back as far as the
late 17th century.
The
original purpose of the Cornish
pilot gig was as a general work
boat, and the craft is used for
taking pilots out to incoming
vessels off the Atlantic. In those
days the race would be the first
gig to get their pilot on board
a vessel (often those about to
run aground on rocks) got the
job, and hence the payment.
Pilot
Gigs today
Today, pilot gigs are used primarily
for sport, with around 100 clubs
across the globe. The main concentration
is within Cornwall and the Isles
of Scilly, there are also clubs
in Devon, Dorset, Wales and London.
Internationally there are pilot
gig clubs in Australia, the Faeroe
Islands, France, the Netherlands,
and the USA.
All
modern racing gigs are based on
the "Treffry", built
in 1838 by William Peters of St.
Mawes, and still owned and raced
by the Newquay Rowing Club. However
non-racing gigs have been built
which do not conform to the exact
specification of the Treffry and
are disallowed from racing in
competitive races.
The
sport is governed by the Cornish
Pilot Gig Association, which monitors
all racing gigs during the construction
phase. The Association's Standards
Officer is responsible for measuring
every gig at least three times
during construction, to ensure
that it conforms to the Standard
set by the Association.
The
100th gig, built for the Bude
Gig Club by Ralph Bird was launched
during the summer of 2005.
World
Champsionships
Since 1990, the World Pilot Gig
Championships have been held annually
on the Isles of Scilly. Held over
the first May bank holiday weekend,
they are attended by over 2000
rowers and spectators, and in
2006 almost 100 gigs were there,
and is widely believed to be the
busiest weekend on the islands,
with an approximate doubling of
population.
Ladies
at the Isles of Scilly 2004, Pose
with thier two boats
Ladies at the Isles of Scilly,
Rose Crew 2004:
6. Sarah Hamill
5. Sam Jane
4. Katie Smith
3. Angie Richards
2. Emma G
1. Chris Legg
|
