The historic tradition of gig rowing has been active throughout Cornwall since the 18th Century. Once a lucrative form of employment for seafarers, and now a popular sport, pilot gigs clubs are found in nearly every seaside and harbour town throughout Cornwall.
Pilot gigs are a six-oared rowing boat, traditionally built of Cornish narrow leaf elm, 32 feet long with a beam of 4 feet 10 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 crafts used for taking pilots out to incoming vessels off the Atlantic. At the time, the gigs would race to get their pilot on board a vessel first (often those about to run aground on rocks) in order to get the job and hence the payment. They were also used to help larger vessels to navigate a safe passage, to trade with those same ships and to help rescue those in danger – stranded in remote or dangerous locations or jumping from sinking ships. They transported goods and people between the Isles of Scilly and the mainland but also ferried smuggled contraband ashore!
These workhorses of the sea were naturally expected to move fast about their work and a racing of sorts therefore ensued. The first to get to a ship would reap the various rewards – whether that be the pilotage fee or goods to trade. When a new gig was built it was tested against opposition boats to find out how fast it was. It was only a matter of time before these impromptu races were replaced with official fixtures, and so pilot gig racing was born.
According to the Cornish Pilot Gig Association, the gigs which we see today are taken from a traditional design and follow the original specifications as laid down by the Peters family in the form of the gig ‘Treffry‘ (1838), which is still actively rowed by Newquay Rowing Club.
In 1981, local gig builder Ralph Bird alongside some other enthusiasts, borrowed a few historic gigs and set up the Truro Three Rivers Race. Within five years, four pilot gig clubs had been established and this led to the Cornish Pilot Gig Association being formed in 1988 with Ralph as President.
Since the 1980’s, the sport has grown and grown, with nearly 150 gigs lining up on the start-line at the World Pilot Gig Championships which takes place each year on St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly. The islands have been host to this major event since 1990. During May to September there is a busy race calendar with competitions held most weekends.
Rowing techniques and clothing has obviously changed dramatically and there are now GRP (plastic) gigs available for training purposes and owned by many clubs. Gig clubs have now spread beyond their historical westcountry homeland with clubs in Devon, Somerset, Home Counties, Holland and even the USA.
Gig rowing has clearly developed over the years to giving way to new and more enjoyable incentives to get out on the water and appreciate our surroundings be it either in a racing or more social capacity.