TRIBUTE TO THE GIG
ST. MARY'S BONNET Bonnet - Peters, 1830
SLIPPEN Slippen - William Peters, 1830 GL E GO LD EN EA
Golden Eagle - Peters, 1870
SE RI CA Serica - Tom Chudleigh, 1967
NORNOUR Nornour - G Pearn, 1971
IS LA ND ER Islander - Tom Chudleigh, 1989
Em ma Lo uis e Emma Louise - Peter Martin, 2003 TREGARTHEN
S
Tregarthens - Peter Martin, 2012
The Isles of Scilly is home to the largest surviving fleet of 19th Century gigs. Today, they are raced purely for pleasure, but their heritage remains very much a part of island life - from helping incoming ships to navigate the waters to smuggling and performing daring rescues. The Isles of Scilly has long been associated with pilot gigs. The islands were the first port of call after a long Atlantic crossing for fresh supplies or repairs. A ship would pick up a pilot to guide them safely into the shelter of St. Mary’s Pool. When a ship signalled with a
TRESCO & BRYHER CZ AR Czar - Peters, 1879
MEN-A-VAUR Men-a-Vaur - G Pearn 1983 EMPEROR
Emperor - Peter Martin, 2002 S ALFIE JENKIN
flag for a pilot, the gigs would race to get there first and claim the job ST. MARTIN'S – and the payment. Gigs often doubled as DO LP HI N lifeboats, and some were used Dolphin - Tom Chudleigh, 1969 for smuggling goods, as they were quick to launch and could GA LA TE A row straight out into a headwind. Galatea - Ralph Bird, 2001 With their shallow draft, they were IRON MAID ideal for slipping between rocks Iron Maid - Brian Nobbs, 2006 and going alongside shipwrecks – although it was dangerous work ST. AGNES and many men lost their lives or
Alfie Jenkins - Peter Martin, 2010
SHAH
Shah - Nicholas Peters, 1873
SUSSEX Sussex - Nicholas Peters, 1886 CA MP ER NE LL
Campernell - Peters 1895
LYONNESSE Lyonnesse - Ralph Bird, 1988
TO THE RESCUE 19th April 1910, Czar salvages cattle from the stricken SS Minnehaha. Image: © National Maritime Museum
damaged their boats. Shortly after World War II, the working life of the pilot gig diminished, but racing for pleasure soon became a pastime and a passion on the islands. Scilly hosted the first World Pilot Gig Championship in 1990 with just 19 boats from Cornwall and the islands. Last year attracted some 140 gigs – hosting men’s, ladies’ and veterans’ teams from as far away as the USA. The “champs”, which take place every year, on the first Bank Holiday in May, have become an island spectacle as a carnival atmosphere descends across the archipelago. For more information about gigs and gig racing, have a look at gigrower.co.uk and cpga.co.uk. If you visit Scilly, why not head down to the St. Mary’s gig sheds at Porthmellon Beach where you will find some of the racing gigs as well as story boards that tell of their fascinating history? You can also watch the local gig races every week from mid-April to the end of September. Ladies race on Wednesday evenings; men on Friday evenings.