2020 has been a challenging year for all of us, both in terms of gig rowing and in the wider world, and with the cancellation of an entire racing season together with almost six months of no rowing it will not go down as a vintage year.
But in our 15th anniversary year, Boscastle & Crackington Gig Club have the excitement of welcoming a brand new racing gig to our fleet. Fundraising in current times has been especially difficult but we are proud to say that we have raised the full amount of a new boat in just over two years through the hard work of our members at a number of events including our regatta, a Cider and Pasty Walk and marine wildlife walk, as well as some exceptionally generous donations.
Next Sunday, on 25th October, we will be travelling down to Peter Williams’ boatyard to collect our new boat and take her back to Boscastle Harbour for a traditional blessing. Obviously COVID has entirely scaled back our original plans, but we will still be able to manage a blessing from the local reverend who also did us the honour of blessing our first new gig 14 years ago, and to get a crew out for her first ever row.
Even more exciting; the whole thing will be filmed for the upcoming new series of the Channel 4 tv programme, ‘Devon and Cornwall’ who have been following the build with Peter. The launch of our first gig was covered on the BBC programme ‘A Seaside Parish’ so we are very honoured to follow on in that tradition with our new boat.
While we might not have Scillies to look forward to next year, we are hoping for some great rowing and happy times ahead. Maybe even a regatta or two if we’re really lucky!
Thank you Phoebe Millar for this article
Well done Boscastle and Crackington, We need good news at the moment and this is what you have. What will it be called?
Peter
F&MPGC