Welcome to
Appledore
Pilot Gig Club
About
us
Photographs Tim Haughton
Welcome to Appledore Pilot Gig Club. We’re an independent, community-based sea-rowing club. We row and race traditional Cornish Pilot Gigs. We’re based in the fishing port of Appledore at the mouth of the Rivers Taw and Torridge. We compete in regattas around the South West as part of the Cornish Pilot Gig Association.
It is our goal to provide the local community, from age eleven upwards, with an opportunity to take part in our sport. We have over 120 active members both social and competitive.
We are passionate not only about keeping this exciting and traditional sport alive, but also in helping to develop it for the future. The club has race crews who attend regattas throughout the South West of England as well as the World Pilot Gig Championships in the Isles of Scilly.
The club is also a proud participant in many local community events. We are a member of and governed by the Cornish Pilot Gig Association (CPGA).
It is our goal to provide the local community, from age eleven upwards, with an opportunity to take part in our sport. We have over 120 active members both social and competitive.
We are passionate not only about keeping this exciting and traditional sport alive, but also in helping to develop it for the future. The club has race crews who attend regattas throughout the South West of England as well as the World Pilot Gig Championships in the Isles of Scilly.
The club is also a proud participant in many local community events. We are a member of and governed by the Cornish Pilot Gig Association (CPGA).
Photograph Gillian Gray
Our
Racing Gigs
WOODEN
We have three traditional wooden pilot gigs, Verbena, Whitford and Len White. Verbena and Whitford were built by Brian Pomeroy of Dartmouth and Len White by Peter Williams of Fowey. All Cornish Pilot gigs are built to specifications laid down by the Peters family when they built Treffry, the forefather of all modern gigs, in 1838. It is testament to the skill of design and quality of build that Treffry remains in use by the Newquay rowing club to this day.
Verbena was christened on 4th April 2005 and marked a milestone for the club. Built from narrow-leaf Scottish elm, as Cornish elm is prohibitively expensive, she was our first gig and we are very proud of her.
Whitford was christened on 7th July 2007 and is built from the same batch of elm as Verbena. She shares regatta duties with Verbena.
Len White was christened on 27th April 2019 in memory of our late club president and founding partner.
Whitford was christened on 7th July 2007 and is built from the same batch of elm as Verbena. She shares regatta duties with Verbena.
Len White was christened on 27th April 2019 in memory of our late club president and founding partner.
Wooden gigs need a lot of care and each year after the racing season ends they are taken out of the water, dried, sanded down and fixes made to any knocks and scrapes born from the tussle of racing competition. They are then repainted. It’s a labour of love that takes a lot of dedication, time and cost.
FIBREGLASS
Training Boats
We also have two fibreglass training boats – Siren and Margaret James which allow us to train throughout the winter without requiring as much upkeep and maintenance.
Our Beliefs
We are always trying to improve, whilst keeping a strong teamwork ethic. Teamwork is key to our beliefs alongside a positive supportive environment. We have great pride in being there for each team member. Community has always been and will always be the mainstay of our club as we recognise the importance of the club's role and any investment that enters the community.
We feel very proud of what we've achieved to date but also in what we hope to achieve in the future, as a team, by welcoming everyone who wants to be part of Appledore Pilot Gig Club.
We feel very proud of what we've achieved to date but also in what we hope to achieve in the future, as a team, by welcoming everyone who wants to be part of Appledore Pilot Gig Club.
Our Constitution
The running of any club takes a lot of effort and mutual respect. We have a club constitution that enables our club to run smoothly and help guide us going forward. Download our Constitution policy [below]
Health & Safety
Gig rowing is a fun and exciting sport, however it takes place in deep water, often at sea. We take health and safety extremely seriously, from the time the gig is being readied on shore to the time she’s back on her trailer, health and safety is paramount. Our health and safety policy must be adhered to by all members. We have a dedicated Health and Safety Officer.
Download Health & Safety policy [below]
Download Health & Safety policy [below]
