Breakwater Beach in Brixham set the stage for an exciting South Devon Winter League fixture on Saturday 22nd March. Initially greeted with glimpses of sunshine, rowers soon faced chilly winds and challenging waters, with side-on waves creating a lumpy course. Despite the tough conditions, spirits remained high, and the organisers amended the format to accommodate the conditions.
Amy Plowman, Club Captain, Brixham Gig Rowing Club explained, “We started the day with a straight-line race of approximately 1.5km—slightly shorter than planned—to ensure as many races as possible were completed before the forecasted wind shift. The easterly wind was expected to arrive in the afternoon, creating dangerous swell on the beach and making crew changeovers difficult, with the risk of damage to both rowers and gigs. The first five women’s races ran in this format, but the wind arrived earlier than expected, forcing a rapid switch to Plan B.”
To ensure safety and efficiency, the remaining races were run within the shelter of the breakwater, allowing quick access to the highly protected slipway for changeovers. This new format transformed the races into exciting time trials, with gigs setting off at 30-second intervals to complete one (Juniors, Open C, Women’s Masters) or two (Open Super Vets, Open Vets, Open B, Open A) laps of approximately 1km around a cluster of moorings on one side of the harbour.
The change in format proved to be an unexpected highlight, offering fantastic entertainment for spectators, who had a clear view of the entire race as crews fought to chase down the gig ahead or maintain their lead.
Amy added, “The adaptability and sportsmanship of all participating clubs were outstanding. We are incredibly grateful to everyone for embracing this unusual race format with enthusiasm and determination, turning a logistical challenge into a truly memorable event.”
The day saw plenty of memorable moments, particularly for Brixham’s novice rowers, who excelled in their first-ever race and left the event eager for more competition.
The Open Super Vets category provided another highlight, with Brixham achieving their best result of the season—tying for first place with Dart.
Brixham Gig Rowing Club thanked all the sponsors, volunteers, and rowers giving a special shout out to local rower and novice Ashley Evans of Evans Family Foods in Galmpton, who supplied great hot burgers, proving a huge hit with participants and spectators alike.
The club looks forward to welcoming everyone back for more fantastic racing in the months ahead as they prepare to host the Vets Championships on 12th July, followed by the Brixham Gig Rowing Club Regatta on 13th July. As always the club is set to deliver great racing and hospitality at these two events, a weekend not to be missed!
Photo credit: Charlotte Hodgson
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