Cornish Pilot Gigs

Cornish Pilot Gigs are traditionally built clinker rowing boats, each crewed by six rowers with a single oar and a coxswain. Originally used to ferry pilots to meet sailing vessels approaching the Cornish coast, speed was of the essence and gig construction had to reflect this need. "Treffry", a gig built in 1838 by William Petres of St. Mawes proved to be capable of outrunning all others and new gigs are today built to her measurements. She is still rowed by the Newquay Rowing Club!

The Cornish Pilot Gig Association oversees organisation of the sport, it co-ordinates the racing programme and controls measurement rules and new boat construction. There are approximately fifty gig clubs in existence with 7,000 active rowers, spanning the southern coast of England from the Isles of Scilly through Cornwall, Devon and Dorset to as far North as Ramsey Island in Wales. Overseas there are clubs who come to race in the UK from the Netherlands, the Faroe Isles and a growing participation in the sport in the USA.

 

Salcombe Estuary Rowing Club's Boats

The four small boats owned by the Club are kept parked on the grass across the road from the public slipway at Batson. These boats are available for use by all members provided they are competent rowers. They are also used to teach rowing, primarily to children, but often for adults as well.

The three gigs owned by the Club BOLT, CADMUS and WOLF are extensively used by all sections of the club for training, social & competitive rowing and are also used to teach gig rowing to those interested in learning.  The gigs attend rowing regattas throughout the Spring and Summer months throughout the South West.   All members are welcome to join the rowers at these spectacular events.

 

Children's Small Boat Rowing

 

The small rowing boats are used to introduce children (5-12 years old) to rowing. The children and their parents participate in preparing the boats before use and all help make sure they are put away properly at the end of the session.

 

 

Junior Rowing - Under 14 and 16

 

Once children master rowing the club's small boats then they move on to rowing the full-sized gigs.  With dedicated (CRB checked) instructors they quickly progress and master the unique gig rowing style.  The club's Junior members are both very active on the rowing circuit and have been extremely successful in competition.  Gig rowing fosters a great team spirit, enables focus and self discipline as well as really good outdoor fitness.

 

 

Social Rowing

 

SERC has a band of very active social rowers. The emphasis is on getting out on the water to have a very good row whilst at the same time enjoying the flaura & fauna of the estuary and the company of those around you. Throughout the year the social rowers meet most Sundays (plus Friday evenings in Summer months) and often row to a local hostelry and then back again.

 

 

Veterans Rowing - Ladies and Men

 

SERC has a very active, yet competitive, veterans (over 40) section. The veterans row throughout the year for fitness and fun, yet also field very competitive squads from amongst those that still wish to race and they can be seen competing at a number of Cornish Pilot Gig Association events including the World Championships in the Isles of Scilly and other club races.

Supervets

SERC is proud that it also has an incredibly active Supervets section, with rowers into their 80's amongst the crew. The maxim is "rowing does not stop once you leave the veterans"! We are one of the only clubs in the Westcountry that can boast such an accolade.

Ladies' and Men's Rowing

Those adults who wish to learn how to row begin their training in May with approximately 4 taster sessions. Once the basics of technique and safety have been learnt they can progress to rowing with others of a similar standard where their new found skills can be taught and most importantly practiced ! As the season progresses, and confidence/ability increases there are ample opportunities for new rowers to begin to race for the club (for those that want to!). The emphasis is on learning, fitness and fun.

SERC also has very active ladies and men's racing crews. For those that choose that they want to race there are dedicated training sessions 2/3 times per week pre-season with races most weekends all over the Westcountry during the summer. The ladies and men's racing crews have been incredibly successful since the clubs inception and continue to go from strength on the circuit with 2007 being the first year that the club fielded 3 ladies and men's teams each for the Isles of Scilly - a club first and very rare for any gig club.

Coxing

SERC also has some incredibly dedicated coaches and coxes for the gigs. Many of the coxes are also active rowers, but not all. If you love the water, and have previous boating or sailing experience, and want to try something a little different from the norm why not come along and learn to be a gig cox?

Small Boats

The four small rowing boats are available for use by Club members so long as they are not used during the time allotted for teaching children.  These boats must not be taken ashore and it is the individual Club member's responsibility to ensure that they are not used in unsuitable weather conditions nor taken out by novice rowers unless accompanied by an experienced Club rower. For more information about the use of these boats please contact the Club Safety Officer, Chris Spencer-Chapman on 01548 843748.

Racing

SERC also has very active ladies and mens racing crews. For those that choose that they want to race there are dedicated training sessions 2/3 times per week pre-season with races most weekends all over the Westcountry during the summer. The ladies and men's racing crews have been incredibly successful since the clubs inception and continue to go from strength on the circuit . 2007 was the first year that the club fielded 3 ladies and mens teams each for the Isles of Scilly - a club first and very rare for any gig club.

The rowing season begins in the depths of winter - competitive crews take to the water in February, light permitting. The first events take place in March/April and the gigs are taken to the Isles of Scilly in May for the World Championships. In June, the Club hosts its own regatta which is a stunning event, and throughout the summer, the gigs are towed all over Devon, Cornwall and Dorset for other events. The season is brought to a close with the County Championships held over two weekends in September. Winter heralds the boat maintenance programme when all members contribute and those with an eye on competitive rowing for the following season take to the gym to maintain and improve their fitness.