Portishead Pilot Gig Club has just returned from the 30th World Pilot Gig Championships on Isles of Scilly, thirty miles off the coast of Cornwall. The annual event hosts gig clubs from across the world, with 163 pilot racing gigs taking part.
Portishead sent six crews to the three day event, along with their new pilot racing gig Blacknore. The first day saw the Ladies Vets and Super Vets racing against tough competition, with the Ladies Vets storming home in 29th position out of 49. A massive achievement for all six women taking part who only started rowing 18 months ago.
The second day was the turn of both the men’s and women’s open crews to take to the water in the long race, lining up on a start line stretching over a mile wide. Big seas and strong winds made this race the toughest crews had seen, but they rowed hard and finished strong. The crews continued to race through the heats over the weekend, with the Ladies B winning their heat going into the third day.
The crews raced well and exceeded all expectations over the weekend finishing ahead of some much more experienced crews and clubs in the final heats.
The overall results were as follows; Women’s Vets 29/49, Women’s Super-Vets 35/40, Women’s A 62/163, Women’s B 142/163, Men’s A 63/160 and Men’s B 141/160
