Sarah Price and Polly Schafer have been inspired to start a Gig Rowing Club in Bembridge – Brading Haven Gig Rowing Bembridge.
Having attended Gig Fest, an annual event at the Duver that brings Gig Rowing Clubs from Yarmouth and the South Coast to competitively race together, the 2 were completely hooked and set themselves the challenge of creating a Gig Rowing club in Bembridge for the very first time.
Gig Rowing is it is open to all adults of all ages and abilities; it gives the community the opportunity to be on the water, to work as a team, get fit and meet new people across the community. 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 club and membership has grown steadily over the past year with 35 members rowing at different levels from Taster Rows, which introduces new people to Gig Rowing, with more experienced rowers and a cox on board. Just Rows is for those with some knowledge and experience, who enjoy a social row. Distant Rowing gives people who would like to do more longer rows and train for potential events in the future.
The magic of rowing is you see all ages and people well into their 70s and 80s enjoying the team spirit of rowing, being on the water and being on a boat that is very stable in all conditions on the water.
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. These workhorses of the sea were naturally expected to move fast about their work and racing of sorts ensued.
Brading Haven Gig Rowing Bembridge (BHGR) now has 2 Gigs. ‘Puffin’ is a boat leased from the CPGA.
The CPGA (Cornish Pilot Gig Association) provides an opportunity for new Gig Rowing clubs to apply for a ‘Gig in a Box’ and BHGR were successful in their application, providing the newly established club with a Gig and all its equipment and trailer.
Then, earlier in 2024, it was decided to buy a 2nd boat and the opportunity to buy ‘Nerthek’ a traditional wooden Gig built by the famous boat builder – Patrick Bird. I
n order to buy the boat, the club were fortunate that 25 ‘Gig Angels’ stepped forward and contributed to enable the purchase of this beautiful boat from Mengeham Rowing Club.
Nerthek, whose name will remain with her was built in 1991 to CPGA dimensions and has a CPGA registration plate. 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 took her on in 2020 and were asked by Porthleven to retain her name as it meant so much to the Cornish people. During the Winter of 2021 and in 2022, she competed in the Hamble River Raid and the Cockleshell Challenge, as well as a couple of in-Harbour events.
Sarah Price and Polly Schafer said:
“Gig Rowing is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, and it is going to be a very exciting year ahead. We have a fantastic and inspired group of volunteers who have supported us all along the way to make this club and the Gig Rowing a success.
“The planning and strategy for the next year will be on a fundraising focus to restore Nerthek to her original condition as a historical wooden Gig, to encourage more people to try Gig Rowing and grow our membership and connect with our community on the island, to continue our Cox Training programme where we are looking for more coxes to train and support the rows with the support of very experienced coxes from Yarmouth Gig Rowing and Langstone Gig Rowing, who we work very closely with.”
“In addition, for those rowers who are building their expertise and wish to compete, we want to put Brading Haven Gig Rowers Bembridge on the Gig competition map in the UK”.
On Saturday 2nd November, Brading Haven Gig Rowers held a Bond-themed fund-raising event which was a huge success, bringing the Gig Rowing community together on the Isle of Wight, with Yarmouth Gig Rowing attending also.
The fundraising was in aid of supporting Nerthek, the beautiful wooden Gig that resides at the club that needs to be restored to her former glory.
