Charlestown Rowing Club was formed in 1990, to provide rowing for the village and community of Charlestown by bringing back the traditional Gigs used by the Coastguard during the 1800s.

In the past 20 years the club has become an integral part of the village activities. Now with an annual membership of 100 strong, ranging from 10 – 65+ years, the club is one of the leading clubs in the Cornish Pilot Gig Association (CPGA) regularly competing in regattas throughout the South-West and beyond.

At the end of the 2010 season Charlestown Ladies were 2nd in Tribute series and also 2nd in the Open Pilot Gig Championships

Apart from competitive racing the club is actively involved in community activities including: the Charlestown Challenge (rowing event for local business), the RNLI Rashleigh / Rashleigh race, Regatta Carnival and several social rowing events for businesses.

Over the past 3 years the club has developed links with Penrice School and St. Austell College, running and coaching learn to row and indoor rowing courses for students to increase our younger membership base. In recognition of these activities the club was awarded the highest level 3 Club Achievement Award (2006) and the Top Sports Club award (2008) by Restormel Council.

In 2009, the club was the first Fixed Seat Rowing Club in the UK to be awarded Sport England Club Mark accreditation, the highest national award for Sport Club organisation within the Great Britain.

To support these activities the club has invested in training its volunteers, courses include: Health and Safety, VHF Radio, Child Protection, First Aid and Equity. The club currently has the highest base of British Rowing accredited coaches within the Cornish Pilot Gig Association (12 x Level 1; 6 x Level 2, plus 1 Coaching Assessor)

Since its formation Charlestown Rowing Club has actively supported local charities. In May 2007 the Club completed the first complete circumnavigation of Cornwall by rowing and pushing their Gig Tormentor around the coast and boundaries of Cornwall in 7 days, raising over £14,000 for the RNLI and the club funds.

Fund raising from the annual Boxing Day Swim and the Row Round Cornwall Challenge has enabled the club to donate over £20,000 to local charities including Churchtown Farm, RNLI and the Hospice (The 2010 Boxing Day Swim will be in aid of the Hospice).

Currently the club has 5 boats - 2 wooden racing Gigs (Waterwitch and Defender), 2 GRP training Gigs and a Skiff / Safety boat. The combined value of the clubs assets exceed £80,000 (each wooden Gig costs approx £20,000 to build in addition to a trailer, oars and associated equipment this total value exceeds £25,000 per Gig).

Whilst the GRP Gigs are not affected by weather, wooden Gigs and oars require covered shelter to keep them dry and competitive, as well as providing essential workshop space for annual painting and maintenance during the winter months. In July 2010, driven by the increasing deterioration of the boat the lack of workshop facilities and increasing cost of repair, the club reluctantly sold its original Gig - Mystery.

Since its formation Charlestown Rowing Club has never had any permanent storage for its boats and equipment. Always depending on 'Good Will', accommodation was provided at many locations within the village and surrounding area - (see attached list). These have now all disappeared due to changing local fortunes and the ongoing commercial development of the village. Currently the clubs Gigs and equipment are mainly are stored on the quay; the last location in the village was lost by the conversion of the Pier House Garage into the Harbour Side Pub in 2004

The following lists the locations used for boat storage since Charlestown Rowing Club's formation in 1990:

• Moore's Boat Shed (now Square Sail workshops)
• Boat Shed (now Wreckers Restaurant)
• Cliff Head Hotel Garage
• Hoopers Coal yard (Housing development)
• Charlestown Clay Dry (Destroyed by fire)
• Imerys Bal Pit Workshops (now closed)
• Square Sail yard (no room)
• Private shed at Ruddlemoor (Vandalism)
• Charlestown Engineering (Housing development)
• Charlestown Car Park (privately owned)
• Pier House Garage (now Harbour Side Pub)
• Private shed at Scredda (not practical)
• Imerys Littlejohns Pit (building now full)
• Imerys Blackpool Pit (now closed)
• Imerys Par Docks (now closed)
• St.Austell Brewery

Over the past 15 years the club has pursued several schemes to try to provide a permanent base within the village with no success or hope of any potential for the future. In early 2011 we submitted a planning application for a Boat Store in the corner of the Rashleigh Arms car park on land offered on lease by St. Austell Brewery.

The proposed design was for a single story building, to provide storage for the clubs 2 wooden Gigs, oars and safety equipment. Since 2000 the club has been steadily fund raising for the time when it could acquire or build a permanent Boat House in the village. To date the club has raised over £20,000 towards a boat shed including: £10,000 Cornwall Council grant, £7,000 from the 2007 Row Round Cornwall Challenge and a £1,000 donation from Imerys.

In late April 2011, just before the club participated in the 2011 World Pilot Gig Champsionships on the isles of Scilly the club recieved the news that we had been succesful in our planning application and would finally have a permanant home in the Village. The club would like to thank all that supported us in our application and we look forward to making our plans a reality.

In order to build the gig shed the club needs to raise in excess of £60,000. We have already raised £31,000 but still have a long way to go. Your donations are greatly appreciated.

You can send donations to out treasurer Mr Alan Clark, 9 Anjardyn Place, Tywardreath, Cornwall, PL24 2PJ or click the donate button below to make a donation through PayPal.