Gig Rowing

Brading Haven Gig Rowing Bembridge

In the Spring of 2023, Brading Haven introduced Gig Rowing to the club and began an exciting journey to introduce this fun and inclusive sport to the Bembridge and wider East Wight community.

Gig Rowing is open to all adults of all ages and abilities and the aim is to give the community the opportunity to be on the water, whatever your age and ability. There are many benefits to gig rowing including that you work as a team, it gets you fit, you meet new people and have some fun, social gatherings to go to regularly. In addition, for those that feel that sailing is no longer for them physically, Gig Rowing provides a fantastic option to continue to be on the water in a very safe environment.

The Gig Rowing membership is growing steadily with 35 members rowing at different levels from Taster Rows, which introduces new people to Gig Rowing, Just Rows for those who enjoy a social row and Distant Rowing for people who would like to do longer rows and train for potential events in the future.

The history of gigs goes back as far as the late 17th Century. It is recognised as one of the first shore-based lifeboats that went to vessels in distress or used to transport a 'pilot' from land to vessels in need of specialist navigation to get them safely into port. Whichever Gig reached the ship first, won the right to pilot her, plus a pot of prize money.

BHGR now has two Gigs. 'Puffin' which is a boat leased from the CPGA (Cornish Pilot Gig Association) and Nerthek' a traditional wooden Gig which was purchased by 25 'Gig Angels' in March 2024.

Nerthek, whose name will remain with her was built in 1991 by renowned Boat Builder Patrick Bird. Nerthek means Energetic in Cornish. When she was built, she was named Nerthek as a dedication to the memory of five brothers who lost their lives on a fishing boat of the same name after a collision with a freighter in 1948. Commissioned by Porthleven and last raced in the world championships in the Scilly Isles in 2019, Mengeham Gig Rowing, took her on in 2020. She was given some much needed maintenance and competed in 2021/22 in the Hamble River Raid and the Cockleshell Challenge, as well as a couple of in-Harbour events.

So if you have never tried Gig Rowing and would love to or if you have some boating/sailing experience and would like to learn and train as a volunteer Cox, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us through email on gigrowing@bhyc.org.uk

Last updated 01:26 on 16 November 2024