Thanks to Amanda Georgeson for this account of an exciting new arrival on the east coast…
On Tuesday 9th September 2025 University Community Sailing Club (UCSC), Brightlingsea, held a special ceremony for its new Cornish Pilot Gig, formerly known as Teign Spirit, which will now be proudly rowed under her new name, Nirvana.
The traditional wooden rowing gig, built in 2000, was previously loved, rowed and raced by the River Teign Rowing Club in Devon, which has retained her name. Nirvana has found a home at UCSC, after eight rowers from three Essex clubs joined forces to give her a new lease of life on the east coast.
Following a period of restoration by Mark Edwards, master boat builder MBE, and the installation of personalised seats crafted by Devon-based Footcuffs, she was formally unveiled during a traditional ceremony in which the blessings of Poseidon and the wind gods were sought, along with requisite offerings of rum and champagne to the sea. Maritime traditions and superstitions around renaming vessels are deeply rooted in coastal communities, making such a ceremony an important rite to properly usher out the old name and introduce the new one. Club members joined together following the renaming with a rousing rendition of their own club shanty ‘Row Eternally’ on the quayside, before taking Nirvana to the club’s boatyard.
Photo Credit: Stephen Johnson
Mark Cardy, Cornish Rowing Captain said “This ceremony honours not only the importance of Nirvana’s history, but the new opportunity she brings to offer more people the chance to experience gig rowing and racing on the east coast with our ever-growing club. The name Nirvana was chosen as a cheeky reference to the song ‘Teen Spirit’, but also has a deeper meaning of ‘an ideal or idyllic state or place’ which appealed to the club.”
Cornish Pilot Gig rowing has a rich history, with gigs once raced to transport pilots out to ships at sea, with the first gig winning the pilotage contract. These days clubs such as UCSC in Essex help to keep the Cornish tradition alive while welcoming people of all ages to get on the oars.
Founded in 2013, University Community Sailing Club (UCSC) is a friendly community gig rowing club based in Brightlingsea, Essex. The club welcomes rowers of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to seasoned racers, and is proud to be part of the East coast’s strong gig rowing community. UCSC is renowned for its passion for racing and social rowing, and is a friendly, all-inclusive group of people who want to have fun.
UCSC is home to two Harker’s Yard rowing gigs, Violette and Molliette. The Cornish Pilot Gig Golden Gear has been joined by Nirvana to complete the club’s fleet of four boats.
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