Salcombe Estuary Rowing Club are gearing up for their annual gig regatta in the mouth of the estuary.
Everyone is welcome to come and watch from the gardens below Cliff House, where there will be refreshments available and a raffle, with prizes very kindly donated by most of the shops in Salcombe.
Gig rowing is a sport steadily growing in the West Country and further afield, with the World Championships on the Scilly Isles this year hosting more than 150 gigs. Salcombe sent a strong contingent with the Ladies Supervets coming third in their class and the Mens A crew coming 10th overall.
Pilot gigs were first used to guide visiting vessels into harbours and as the first one to arrive got the job, it became a race to get out there first. It has developed in the last 30 years into a sport using traditionally made Cornish Elm 30ft boats with a crew of six and a coxswain.
Anyone is welcome to join the club for general fitness, camaraderie or to satisfy their competitive instinct!
Unfortunately we do not have room for 150 gigs in the estuary but the 18 visiting clubs, along with three gigs from Salcombe will show what a competitive and fun sport it can be and unlike many clubs that row out at sea, the whole course can be seen from outside Cliff House.