The six-oared Cornish Pilot Gig is a rowing boat unique to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly; it's history can be traced back to the 1790s, when it was used to take a pilot out to the square-riggers plying their trade around the Cornish coast and along the English Channel. Competition was rife between neighbouring ports, to get their pilot on board first, as this would secure the much needed trade for their own villagers and it is in this tradition that the now burgeoning sport of gig racing has its roots. Pilot Gigs had to be built to withstand terrible weather conditions; this meant they were used many times in preference to the established lifeboats. There are many reports of them also being used to bring contraband into the Southwest from Brittany.
In the St Austell area four oared gigs operated from Fowey, Charlestown, and Mevagissey and, according to local sources, several such boats were operating from Charlestown for the Coastguard around the turn of the 19th century. The resurgence of Pilot Gigs came in the 1950s, with Newquay Rowing Club and the Isles of Scilly saving original Scillonian Gigs from being broken up for firewood. Tom Chudleigh built the first Gig of the twentieth century 'Serica' in 1967, but it wasn't until 1985 that things really took off. Now there are around 100 new Gigs built in the traditional way. Most of these second generation Gigs are standardised to the dimensions of the Newquay Gig 'Treffry', built by the Peters family of St.Mawes in 1838, reportedly the best and longest Gig they ever built. She is 32 feet long, not less than 4 feet 9 inches amidships and not weighing less than 7cwt.
Cornish Pilot Gig racing is now ingrained in everything that is Cornish. The whole look, feel and construction of these beautiful boats exhibits the hundreds of years of tradition that goes before it.
Charlestown Rowing Club was formed on May 22nd 1990. A group of friends who had followed the sport of gig racing between Newquay and the Isles of Scilly for some years, and who were at that time rowing for the nearby village of Mevagissey, decided to try and form their own gig club in Charlestown. An open meeting was held at the Rashleigh Arms and from that meeting twenty men and women became founder members. That was the easy bit! All that remained was to raise enough money to have a gig built. This was no mean feat as at that time a traditional clinker built pilot gig, plus trailer and six spruce oars cost approximately twelve thousand pounds but with grants and help from the local community it was achieved and our first gig, 'Mystery', was built in Portmellon by Peter Foard and was launched in 1991.
She was rowed over to Charlestown by that original group of friends and greeted at the harbour by the other founder members and people from the village who had heard tell of the new venture but never quite believed it would happen!
Since those humble beginnings Charlestown has gone from strength to strength, so much so that now in the year 2008 the club has around 100 members and is easily one of the largest clubs in the Southwest of England. The club regularly competes in regattas throughout Cornwall, The Isles of Scilly, South Devon and Dorset. Farther afield, the club has sent crews to London to row in the Great River Race and has enjoyed competing in the Muiden Pampas Muiden race in Holland as well as enjoying the Dutch hospitality!
Our second gig, 'Tormentor', was launched in 1995 and built by John and Dave Currah of Looe, who also built our newest racing boat 'Waterwitch' which was launched with much fanfare in 2003. All our wooden boats are painted grey and red; this scheme was adopted from the local school's colours and club members wear them with pride. We also have a Glass Fibre training gig, 'Keynvor', donated by Ocean Housing and painted in their ocean blue livery, which helps preserve the wooden boats for racing and a 4m skiff, funded by a grant from the Cornwall Community Foundation, which can be used by adults and juniors to improve rowing techniques. Both theses boats provide further opportunities to have fun on the water. Traditionally, Cornish Pilot Gigs could be sailed as well as rowed, and both Mystery and Keynvor can be rigged for sail using the dipping lug that was built for us by Square Sail shipyard at Charlestown.
In early 2007 Charlestown Rowing Club took the decision to sell the 'Tormentor' in order to help fund the construction of a new gig. The 'Tormentor' was sold to Padstow Rowing Club, repainted and renamed the 'Vixen'. In early 2009 Maurice Hunkin of Fowey started construction on a new Pilot gig for the club. The club were invited to nominate potential names and the committe voted on the shortlist which yielded the name 'Defender'. The launching is due to take place shortly before the 2009 World Championships in May. In addition to a new wooden boat, an additional glass fibre training gig is being constructed to compliment the 'Keynvor' and help reduce wear and tear on the wooden gigs.
Our next major acquisition is hoped to be a Club House, and a project is underway to convert the old Pattern Store on the site of the former Charlestown Foundry, which has been offered to us by Wainhomes, as a boat shed and community building. This will be a huge undertaking but the Club is proud of it's history and connections with the community in the village of Charlestown and having a permanent base there will secure the future of the club for generations to come. Much of what has been achieved so far would not have been possible without the help and encouragement of so many local people and businesses within the area and we look forward to their continued support as we enter this new phase of the Club's history.
Compiled by Jo Zimber.