Opportunity To Race Around Robben Island

Imagine lining up for a 27km race with Table Mountain rising above you, the Atlantic Ocean stretching to the horizon and Robben Island at the heart of the course.

That opportunity is now being offered to the gig rowing community by False Bay Gig Rowing Club in South Africa, which is inviting a crew from a CPGA member club to take part in the 2027 Prescient Freedom Paddle in Cape Town.

Held annually on South Africa’s Freedom Day, the Freedom Paddle is one of the country’s most iconic paddlesport events. Open to a wide range of human-powered craft, the race follows a challenging 27km course around Robben Island, the UNESCO World Heritage Site where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.

For gig rowers, it presents a rare opportunity to experience a major international endurance event in one of the world’s most spectacular rowing locations.

The invitation comes from False Bay Gig Rowing Club in Simon’s Town, where gig rowing forms part of a wider maritime education programme. Working alongside the Lawhill Maritime Centre and local volunteers, the club helps introduce young people from across South Africa to rowing and life on the water. Cornish Pilot Gigs are used to support youth development and maritime training in the waters of False Bay, creating opportunities for the next generation of South African seafarers and rowers.

To make participation as straightforward as possible, False Bay Gig Rowing Club has offered the use of a spare synthetic Cornish Pilot Gig and oars free of charge for an overseas crew. This means interested rowers would only need to cover their own travel, accommodation and race entry costs.

False Bay Gig Rowing Club are ready to welcome the participating crew ahead of the event, suggesting that crews may wish to arrive a week in advance to access the boat, taking the opportunity to get out on the water and explore the local area.

The event combines physical challenge with a powerful sense of place. Competitors race in the waters of Table Bay, surrounded by the dramatic scenery of Cape Town and the rich history that defines South Africa’s Freedom Day commemorations.

False Bay Gig Rowing Club hopes the invitation will encourage a crew of adventurous gig rowers to make the journey and represent the sport on an international stage.

Event Details

Date: 27th April 2027

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Distance: 27km

Course: Around Robben Island

Boat and oars: Provided free of charge by False Bay Gig Rowing Club

Costs: Participants are responsible for flights, accommodation and race entry fees

Interested?

False Bay Gig Rowing Club would love to hear from any crew interested in taking up the opportunity. Please email hello@gigrower.co.uk with any questions or submit this form to express your interest.

For more information about the event, visit the Freedom Paddle website.

For those seeking a unique rowing adventure, opportunities do not come much bigger than rowing around Robben Island on South Africa’s Freedom Day.

All photos credit: Nick Mason