Social & Mixed Sessions | Tamar & Tavy Gig Club

Great River Race 2015

Well-travelled gig!

Tamar & Tavy Gig club, only weeks after taking the Cornish Pilot Gig ‘Ginette’ to Scotland to row the 60 mile Caledonian Canal, ventured to London on 12^th September for the Great River Race 2015. This is a spectacular boat race up the river Thames. The course is 21 miles from London’s Docklands to Ham House passing under 28 iconic bridge; starting with tower Bridge and ending just after Richmond Bridge. Towing a 33 foot boat through Central London, ready for the start at Mill Wall Slip was an adventure in itself, passing by parliament and the Tower of London. The race attracts huge numbers of spectators and over 330 crews from all over the globe, with the Dutch out in force. Each boat carries a crew, cox, passenger and a large flag. The atmosphere is tremendous, with cheering, fancy dress and a huge range of paddle propelled craft.

Tamar and Tavy Gig Club, ably coxed by chairman Simon Howes, fielded a ladies crew of Lyn Renton (stroke), Denise Nixon, Heidi Brodribb, Charity Lake, Mel Cotton, Amy Ross and Helen Lloyd. A strong head wind on the day meant Dragon boats were prohibited entry by the Port of London Authority, but the rest of the boats took to the water and the race was on! Tamar & Tavy rowed very strongly and had a thoroughly enjoyable race despite the strong headwind. The happy and hardworking crew were welcomed home by the boom of a canon, crossing the line at the 3 hour mark mid-fleet, and finishing strongly with a final burst of 10 more, 10 more and yet 10 more strong stokes to overtake several boats, including some men’s teams, in the last leg of the pursuit race. The team were proud to be wearing new kit sponsored by Hogg’s Bottom Preserves and flying the Devon Flag.

Caledonian Canal 2015

Caledonian Canal Expedition or..Tamar and Tavy Gig Club “The wee boat with a flag”

23rd to 29th August 2015

Rob Dawe, vice chairman of the club, decided 2 years ago to take on and organise the challenge of rowing the 62 + miles of the Caledonian Canal from Fort William to Inverness. Planning came to fruition in the last week of August this year.

Day 1. The 16 strong team set off on the long 600 mile plus journey to Fort William. We arrived to warm sunshine and balmy

Day 2. Our Cornish Pilot Gig, ‘Ginette’, was the safety of the Sailing Club and the morning began with sunshine, bright skies ahead and grey skies behind. Launching from a slipway at Lochaber, with the boat flying the flag of Devon, a short row took the crew to the entrance of the Caledonian Canal at Corpach, Just into the Canal brought us to the eight locks of Neptune’s Staircase, gradually lifting the boat to a height of 70 feet above sea level. This heralded the start of an 8 mile row along the canal to Gairlochy and our first night’s camping.

The ground support team took the boat trailer to Dochgarroch, near Inverness, where parking had been arranged for the week. This proved a good introduction to the easy-going nature of the Highlands, the lock-keeper – who clearly knew nothing of the arrangement, only commented, “Aye, if you say so”.

Day 3. After breakfast, it was into the boat for the rowers and through the lock into Loch Lochy, for its entire length- leaving behind the shadow of Ben Nevis, then back into the Canal to Loch Oich, followed by Canal all the way to Fort Augustus, our next night’s stop.

Day 4. Starting from a beautiful Fort Augustus and a lesson that locks only operate one way – taking boats up, or taking boats down. So although ready at 0930 at the top of the first of 5 locks taking the canal down to Loch Ness, a “double” lift of boats from Loch Ness to the top meant it was 1230 before the gig hit the waters of the Loch. A slow start to a hard day’s row.

Given Loch Ness’ 23 mile length, our next stop was planned roughly halfway along, pulling the boat ashore for the night at Borlum, near Castle Urquhart. The constantly changing and stunning scenery more than made up for the minor discomforts of midges and showers. That evening a trip to a nearby pub/micro brewery producing Loch Ness Ales. There were many friendly greetings at the numerous locks, and great interest from other sailors and pedestrians. In fact, in the course of the journey, the gig became known to fellow travellers and the lock-keepers, as “the wee boat with the flag”.

Day 5. – and the last leg of the row – completing Loch Ness and still in choppy water and a strong SW wind – and back into the Caledonian Canal for the final leg to Inverness. All that was left was to take the gig from its mooring in Inverness through the Sea Lock into the Beauly Firth for a short sea row to the slipway of North Kessock,

A final night of celebration at a well-known eating and music venue – Hootenannys – capped a memorable experience for all.

The rowers: Lynn Renton, Helen Samson-Hill, Tricia Stewart, Helen Lloyd, Ginette Nobbs, Sue Douglass, Simon Howes, Mike Vosper, John Rogers and Chris Dill.

The runners, cyclists and climbers: Rob Dawe, Carolyn Dawe, Ginette Nobbs, Charlie Lloyd and Sam Lloyd.

The ground support crew: Andy Stewart and Brian Nobbs (who built Ginette and towed her up from Weir Quay).

66 MILES, 29 LOCKS, 4 AQUEDUCTS AND 10 BRIDGES!

A GREAT ADVENTURE AND THANKS TO ALL FOR A GREAT TEAM EFFORT!

Social rows

The social rowing season is going well, with some lovely MMR and Thursday evening adventures. These sessions are inclusive of everyone, and designed to let us enjoy our beautiful river without having to worry about training. Thursday evenings often include a stop for refreshments of some kind, and Monday mornings are seeing some exploratory rows to parts of the Tamar and Tavy that we don’t often get to see. One lucky crew even managed to spot the seal up near Pentillie!

Here are a few photos from the season so far:

Fixtures List 2014

Cornish Pilot Gig Association fixtures for 2014 as they currently stand. Please be aware that this is a draft so will be subject to change.

Download the CPGA Fixtures 2014 here

Great London River Race 2013

On Saturday 7^th September, Tamar & Tavy Gig Club entered a mixed vets crew into The Great London River Race. 324 boats took part in the race, and the T&T crew were one of 32 Cornish pilot gigs competing. The race began at London Docklands amidst a carnival atmosphere, and the boats rowed up the Thames through central London, passing under Tower Bridge, past the Houses of Parliament, up through Putney and Richmond and ending at Ham in Surrey – a total of 21 miles of racing which made for a very competitive atmosphere. The T&T crew was formed of Carolyn Dawe and Chris Dill who shared the coxing, Lynn Renton, Johnny Rogers, Simon Howes, Martin Painter, Wendy Maclean and Sandra Anstey. They had a fantastic row, enduring only minor scuffles and some clashing of oars as they went through the bridges, and completed the course with a time of 2:45:06. This placed them 142^nd out of the 324 boats competing and 12^th out of the 32 pilot gigs – a brilliant result, especially as they were the last gig to start. All in all it was a great day on the water, and well worth the blisters!