Mevagissey Gig Club

Mevagissey Gig Rowing Club, originally named as Mevagissey Rowing Club, was formed in 1988.

Although the sport of gig racing has been competitively raced in Newquay and the Isles of Scilly since the early 1960's, it was not until the early 1980's that it started becoming popular around Cornwall.

In 1985, a man called David Foard from Mevagissey was inspired by this fast-growing sport and had the idea to form a gig club in Mevagissey.

A small group was formed to carry out a feasibility study into the interest and practicality of a gig for Mevagissey......After the feasibility study was carried out, a decision was taken that it would be of benefit and advantage to Mevagissey for a gig club to be formed.

Mevagissey Gig Club was officially formed on 12th August 1987 with the officials comprising as:-

Chairman - David Foard
Secretary - Sue Lakeman
Treasurer - Geoff Hocking
Committee - 11 other members

With the help of a grant and a loan from the National Sports Council, Mevagissey's first gig was ordered to be constructed by local boat builders Tom Dudley and Peter Foard, supporting the local boat building economy.

Named "Endeavour", she was launched from Mevagissey harbour on the evening of Saturday 16th April 1988 by former Cornwall and England International Rugby player, Richard Sharp of the National Sports Council.

With growing support for gig rowing and fund-raising, a second gig named as the "Sowenna" was duly built by another local boat builder Peter Moor in 1990.

In 1996, due to increased difficulties of launching and storage at Mevagissey, a decision was taken to move their permanent base to Pentewan Sands, just around the coast, for boat storage, training base and holding racing events.

Mevagissey Gig Club now currently uses Portmellon Cove for training and their annual Regatta. They also continue to be associated with the Mevagissey community through various fundraising events and hosting the Portmellon Watersports event on a yearly basis each in August, where swimming races are held for children, along with gig racing demonstrations and fireworks.

1999 saw good fortune come to Mevagissey Gig Club with the liaison of sponsors Amerada Hess, a major oil and gas company who have contributed towards the clubs funds.

Club secretary Martin Walton, liased closely with Amerada Hess who invited both himself and rowing secretary Tristan Netherton to attend the Faroe Islands national rowing Championships in July 2000 for a fully paid expenses trip.

In return for this kind gesture, Mevagissey Gig Club have struck a deal with Amerada Hess to allow the Faroe Islands mens and ladies crews to use the new Mevagissey gig, Kerens, for the World Championships in the Isles of Scilly, each May.

The year 2000, saw plans in the pipeline for a new gig as they looked to build on their fantastic relationship with the Faroe Islands. Due to the huge junior interest in Cornish Pilot Gig Rowing during the 1999 season, Mevagissey introduced a junior management team who maintain their training schedule and develop their skills as rowers. Unfortunately since, the management team was set up, our junior membership has deteriorated steadily and the club are currently looking for new members. To assist with the junior development, the club also received a grant of Ł4,419.00 from the Millenium Awards for All to purchase two sets of oars, a set of lifejackets, and a new trailer.

The year 2001 was another successful year for the gig club when the Mens A Crew finished top of Group C in the World Championships in the Isles of Scilly, with a respectable 25th overall final position. The Ladies A also finished comfortably in Group C. As well as success on the water negotiations were also being finalised off the water with Amerada Hess for their generous offer of purchasing a new gig for Mevagissey Gig Club. An order was then placed with Cornwall's renown gig builder Dave Currah for a new gig which was commenced in July 2001.

The ratio of men to women in the club is approximately 50:50. Members of the club come from all sections of the community and are drawn from the area stretching from Mevagissey to Menheniot!

Despite its present membership, Mevagissey Gig Club is continuing to look for new rowers throughout the season and to move things forward both on and off the water.

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