The founders of Brading Haven Gig Rowers Bembridge, Sarah Price and Polly Schafer, who are part of Brading Haven Yacht Club, received the very best Christmas present they could wish for.
The pair had entered a competition that Swanage Sea Rowing Club were running, to be the lucky beneficiaries of their beautiful wooden Gig called ‘Old Harry’.
Swanage Sea Rowing Club (SSRC), a very established and successful Gig Rowing club on the south coast, had decided that they wanted to give one of their wooden Gigs ‘Old Harry’ that had been in storage for 3 years, to a Gig club that was in development and could benefit from such an acquisition.
Swanage Trustees invited clubs from around the UK to apply with the potential of being gifted the much-loved boat that was SSRC’s first Gig they had bought. The Swanage Trustees determined that the presentation from Brading Haven Gig Rowers Bembridge was the best and gave the club the great news.
Sarah Price and Polly Schafer, joint Founders of Brading Haven Gig Rowers Bembridge, have said:
“We were absolutely over the moon and so excited to receive this incredible gift. As a new Gig Rowing Club that began only 18 months ago at Brading Haven Yacht Club, to have our very own Gig gifted to us so early in our development is amazing. The club has gone from strength to strength, with 40 members of all ages enjoying this fantastic and inclusive sport on the water”.
The name of Old Harry will remain with Swanage Rowing Club so she will be renamed and rebranded very soon. Built in 2001 by Alan Hangar at his workshop in Weymouth Quay, it cost Swanage Sea Rowing Club around £10,000 to purchase her. A highlight of the Gig’s career to date was when Swanage’s women’s crew finished 14th at the Isles of Scilly World Championships back in 2006.
Chair of Swanage Sea Rowing Club (SSRC), Adrian Charters, along with another club member delivered the new gift to Brading Haven Gig Rowers on a trailer from Swanage to Bembridge, Isle of Wight.
Adrian said:
“After only a clean up the day before she was delivered safely to her new home in Bembridge. As part of the celebration, we launched her at Brading Haven Yacht Club. Despite having sat in a barn for 3 years she rowed like a dream and we took her for a 6km row around the forts and then back to the club for a warm welcome and celebration.
“We are absolutely delighted that she has gone to such a good home and that she will be used daily by Brading Haven Gig Rowers. Old Harry will be sadly missed but it was important to support another new club and have her used regularly again.
Speaking on their success, Polly and Sarah have said:
“One of the many exciting parts of winning this beautiful Gig is that she also has the benefit of all her original sails which is how Gigs used to be built. For a yacht club, what could be better, to have a Gig our rowers can enjoy and our sailors can try too.
“We are looking forward to lots of exciting plans for Gig Rowing in Bembridge this year, collaborating closely with our friends at Yarmouth Gig Rowing on the IOW and clubs like Langstone and Swanage who have been incredibly supportive. Our thanks also go to all our volunteers who helped get her in the water and are now taking care of her. Gig Rowing is a fantastic, community focussed, activity for all ages and brings people together for fun on the water”.
