Mount's Bay Pilot Gig Club

After a quiet couple of weeks due to cancellations the Mounts Bay Gig Club have had a busy few days starting with Thursday evening when the club joined other ladies crews at a fund raising event organised by Cape Cornwall Gig Club at Sennen Harbour.  The plan was to row around the Longships Lighthouse but after recommendations from the Sennen Life Boat a shorter route was raced and the Mounts Bay crew came in second after Newquay.  After there were refreshments at the Cape Cornwall Club House and although the full course had not been raced the ladies still made the most of the hospitality on offer and the sun set on what had been a really enjoyable evening.

The hospitality of the Gig Rowing community carried on into the weekend and the long journey to Weymouth was made worthwhile by a highly organised and successful event.  This was the first time the clubs new gig Cormoran had been out of County and the preparations for the Olympics sailing event in Portland meant that one of the biggest challenges of the weekend was tackling the road works and towing the gig through the narrow streets of Weymouth. 

The weather on Saturday was perfect for both rowers and spectators and the situation of the event meant the whole race could be seen, giving spectators the best view of the rowing at any event on the rowing circuit. A small number of the top Cornish Clubs travelled to the event and it made a change to row against the Dorset and Devon Clubs as well as the crews from Bristol.  The first race saw the Men’s A lead all the way around the course until after the last mark when some clever coxing by the Falmouth Cox took advantage of the last leg and closely beat the Mounts Bay crew into second.  Next the Men’s B took seventh place and the Ladies A and B crews took fifth and third respectively.  The Vets Mixed crew entered the men’s vets race as the only mixed crew and beat seven other all male crews to take fifth place.  Well done ladies !  The mixed crew took the most convincing win of the day finishing about ten boat lengths in front of the next crew.  The Club would thoroughly recommend attending this event in the future.

And finally on the Sunday a squad of rowers attended the St Ives event at Carbis Bay, entering all the races with the Mens A coming third, Mens B first, Ladies A fifth, Ladies B fourth, the Mixed came second and the Mixed Vets came sixth.

Thanks to Cape Cornwall, Weymouth and St Ives Clubs and a big thankyou to the towers who’s efforts were very much appreciated.