Wood to Wave – New Film Coming Soon!

A new film documenting the progress of Falmouth Marine school students as they attempt to build a Cornish Pilot Gig, is due for release in June.

When the students started the build, they had no idea that their work would be hampered by a worldwide pandemic. Falmouth Marine School Tutor, Chris Bosanko-Green said ‘I was gutted for the students, they had signed up for a practical course and were missing out on so much hands-on-learning during the lockdowns.’ But the students persevered working on past the end of term and a second cohort of students picked up the work to complete the build ready for her launch.

CPGA Official, Shane Sullivan, who came up with the idea for the project said, ‘I am so impressed with the beautifully crafted boat that the students have produced. She passed all the measuring milestones with flying colours and is now a listed Cornish Pilot Gig on the CPGA register.’

The gig is now in the ownership of ‘Epic Gigability’ a gig club of military veterans, who row out of Falmouth. They have named her ‘Epic Energy’ and are due to race her at the 2022 World Pilot Gig Championships for the first time.

The name of the new gig is in part a tribute to ‘Energy’, a gig built at Falmouth Marine School thirty years ago. The build of the ‘Energy’ was instigated by Tutor, Ted Pentecost and the students were supported by gig builder Ralph Bird. ‘Energy’ was the first gig to be built in mainland Cornwall in many years and played a role in what is considered the modern revival of the sport.

The film was commissioned by the Cornish Pilot Gig Association and supported by the ESF Business Clusters Project through Cornwall Marine Network. It adds to a growing collection of gig rowing related films produced by David George of Splann Productions.

Details of the film premiere and further showings will be shared through GigRower soon.