33RD World Pilot Gig Championships

What a weekend! The World Pilot Gig Championships (WPGC) 2024 was an absolute smasher featuring all the vital ingredients – great camaraderie, near perfect weather and great racing. Let’s have a look at how it all unfolded…

Wednesday

Those fortunate enough to be there on the Wednesday leading up to WPGC were the first to visit the Traceless Designs stand. Maisie did a fantastic job, almost selling out ahead of the event. It was lovely to see so many people supporting the WPGC official merchandise, creating a vibrant start to the week. This enthusiastic response not only highlighted the community’s appreciation for Maisie’s hard work but also set a positive tone for the days of racing ahead. The Traceless Designs stand became a gathering spot for attendees, where conversations flowed about favourite designs and the upcoming races.

 

Thursday

As more rowers arrived on the island, the chatter was filled with tales of treacherous crossings on the Scillonian III earlier in the week. Thankfully, most were finally getting over any residual ‘queasiness’ just in time for the racing to start. The atmosphere was joyous as friends, family, and crew mates greeted each other.

Some clubs took advantage of the beautiful weather, filled a boat and took a trip to the off-islands. Others roamed around St Mary’s, making the most of their time on the island. 

The Stream Team captured the building anticipation by asking many of you to describe your feelings leading up to the event in one word. Standout responses included “powerful,” “nervous,” and “intrigued.”

Friday

Friday marked the beginning of the racing with Vets, Super Vets, and Masters crews taking to the start line. The new Masters category, for rowers over 60, added an exciting dimension.

Several crews in the Vet’s and Supervets races faced disqualification under starter’s orders, setting a strict precedent for subsequent rounds. The tension was palpable as one of the Women’s Vets favourites faced an early exit, ensuring everyone adhered closely to the rules.

The Women’s Masters final was a thrilling race, with Salcombe and Helford neck and neck for much of the competition. Helford prevailed in the last 200 metres, edging out Salcombe to claim the very first Masters World Champions title. Salcombe finished second, with Rame securing third place.

Helford’s dominance continued as their Men’s Masters crew also secured victory, achieving a double win in the Masters category. Their men’s crew, with a history of racing together, reunited specifically for this event. Falmouth, having only rowed together six times before the event, battled it out for second place. Flushing and Mylor, with a combined crew age of 494 years, were close behind, finishing in third.

After the first day of racing, it was back to the tunnel for everyone to refuel and prepare for the following day’s competitions. 

Photo credit: Heather Wynn

Saturday

Super Saturday began with the island waking bright and early, eagerly awaiting another day of racing. As rowers arrived from neighbouring islands, the beach started to fill with energy and anticipation.

The Vets and Super Vets, with nerves in their bellies, were ready to leave it all on the water for their finals. The Men’s and Women’s Open crews prepared for the St Agnes race under the shining sun. With a record number of entries in the Vets and Super Vets categories, it was an intense day of competition.

In the Women’s Vets category, Falmouth clinched the win, followed by Charlestown and Porthleven. Falmouth’s men’s vets aimed for gold, with a crew boasting three previous open world champions and a combined total of 25 WPGC gold medals. Caradon finished second, and an IOS crew racing in the new St Agnes boat, Cetewayo, placed third.

Caradon’s men won the Super Vets category with clear water, retaining their title from 2023. Roseland, advancing three positions since last year, placed second, and Dart followed in third.

The Women’s Supervets saw Mounts Bay take first place for the second year running. Dart achieved their goal of making the podium, crossing the line in second place, and Teign, proving their winter training was a success, secured the remaining podium position.

The Open St Agnes races were highly anticipated and made more interesting as a result of some lively swell. 132 crews lined up for the women’s long race, won by  Fowey A. 128 boats lined up for the men’s long race, won by Coverak A. These races set the stage for the upcoming battles, with tight racing throughout the afternoon Nut Rock races. 

 

Sunday

With the Vets Super Vets and Masters officially off duty, Sunday was all about the Open crews. The weather took a turn as the wind picked up and the first rain of the weekend fell. 

For the first time in WPGC history, the women’s open second Nut Rock race, including the B and A heats, experienced unexpected drama with a near-miss involving the Scillonian.

Photo credit: Dave Matthews

Falmouth gained confidence as they beat their biggest rivals, Looe A, for the third time in the championship. Fowey A continued to make a statement as they led the field comfortably into the final. 

The Open finals were a spectacle to behold. Fowey A reclaimed their World Champion title after a series of strong performances in the Women’s Open, dethroning Helford, who finished second, and Caradon, who secured third. The depth of Caradon’s club was evident, with two women’s boats in the A final, their B crew placing 8th overall. 

Daisy, the newest addition to Fowey A crew, celebrated her birthday the best way possible, by becoming a world champion.

The Men’s Open final was a nail-biter, with one of the most exciting races in WPGC history. The crowd in the Park went absolutely wild, a photo finish followed by an anxious wait for the results.

In the end, Looe emerged victorious, winning by a narrow margin and retaining their title for the fifth consecutive year. 

The presentations were the perfect time to celebrate the success of every single crew who took part. The celebrations continued late into the night…rumour has it there were a couple of broken arms as a result of dancing on the piano in the Mermaid. 

Monday

Monday brought the traditional conclusion to the action-packed weekend with the annual rugby match: IOS against The Rest of The World up at the Garrison. Despite sore heads, spirits were high as everyone reflected on the weekend’s events. The singing as the Scillonian departed was a fitting end, full of tired yet satisfied rowers facing the onset of the Scilly blues. Fortunately the rest of the month brought regular rays of sunshine as photographs and stories were shared via social media… who wouldn’t want to see pictures of themselves embracing a world of pain against a backdrop of colourful boats, beautiful islands and blue skies?!