On-line Registration for 2018 Championships will be live on January 4th 2018

Thank you to all rowers who raced in the 2017 World Pilot Gig Championships!

Information for Rowers​
World​ ​Pilot​ ​Gigs​ ​Championships​ ​2017 
 
Chairman’s​ ​invitation
 
The​ ​28​th​​ ​World​ ​Pilot​ ​Gigs​ ​Championships​ ​will​ ​take​ ​place​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Isles​ ​of​ ​Scilly​ ​from​ ​Friday,​ ​28​ ​April 2017​ ​until​ ​Sunday,​ ​30​ ​April​ ​2017.​​ ​I​ ​am​ ​pleased​ ​on​ ​behalf​ ​of​ ​the​ ​organising​ ​committee to​ ​invite​ ​you​ ​to​ ​take​ ​part​ ​in​ ​this​ ​event​ ​which​ ​has​ ​become​ ​the​ ​pinnacle​ ​of​ ​gig rowing.​

​Unfortunately​ ​last​ ​years​ ​event​ ​led​ ​to​ ​financial​ ​loss​ ​for​ ​the​ ​committee. Our​ ​expenditure​ ​increased​ ​by​ ​19%​ ​and​ ​our​ ​income​ ​reduced​ ​by​ ​7%.​ ​We​ ​are​ ​a community-based​ ​voluntary​ ​body​ ​and​ ​do​ ​not​ ​seek​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​profit​ ​but neither​ ​can​ ​we​ ​afford​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​loss.​ ​Therefore this year the registration fee will be increased to £15 per gig per class. This means that each gig will pay £15 to enter the open races, £15 to enter the veterans races, and £15 to enter the super vets races. These fees will apply to both men’s and ladies entries. This decision was not arrived at lightly and was debated at length at our AGM. If we have a large financial surplus then obviously we shall reduce the registration charge in subsequent years.

At the request of competitors the vets and super vets races will no longer be integrated, each will be a separate race both for male and female crews. Consequently it will not be possible for a gig to be entered into both vets and super vets classes. As this will extend the Friday evening rowing I would ask that crews promptly attend the start line in order to obviate midnight rowing.

At the request of competitors the vets and super vets races will no longer be integrated, each will be a separate race both for male and female crews. Consequently it will not be possible for a gig to be entered into both vets and super vets classes. As this will extend the Friday evening rowing I would ask that crews promptly attend the start line in order to obviate midnight rowing.
 
There​ ​are​ ​some​ ​things​ ​I​ ​would​ ​like​ ​to​ ​remind​ ​you​ ​about.​ ​It​ ​remains​ ​a​ ​harbour rule​ ​that​ ​no​ ​gigs​ ​may​ ​moor​ ​adjacent​ ​to​ ​the​ ​quay,​ ​approach​ ​the​ ​key,​ ​all​ ​land​ ​or embark​ ​crew​ ​from​ ​the​ ​quay.​ ​Signing​ ​in​ ​by​ ​Coxes​ ​will​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​take​ ​place with​ ​Martin​ ​at​ ​the​ ​tunnel​ ​commencing​ ​at​ ​midday​ ​on​ ​Thursday,​ ​27​ ​April​ ​2017. Please​ ​return​ ​all​ ​trophies​ ​in​ ​pristine​ ​condition. 
 
Our​ ​income​ ​from​ ​the​ ​“Tunnel”​ ​reduced​ ​again​ ​this​ ​year​ ​despite​ ​a​ ​small increase​ ​in​ ​prices.​ ​I​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​although​ ​more​ ​crews​ ​entered​ ​last​ ​year’s championships​ ​there​ ​were​ ​less​ ​spectators​ ​and​ ​certainly​ ​the​ ​tunnel​ ​was​ ​not supported​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​in​ ​previous​ ​years.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​absence​ ​of​ ​major​ ​sponsors​ ​this​ ​is our​ ​prime​ ​source​ ​of​ ​funding​ ​so​ ​please​ ​support​ ​us​ ​by​ ​buying​ ​Maggie’s​ ​superb 
meals.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​have​ ​any​ ​suggestions​ ​for​ ​changes​ ​in​ ​the​ ​menus​ ​please​ ​let​ ​me know​ ​and​ ​if​ ​these​ ​are​ ​viable​ ​we​ ​are​ ​happy​ ​to​ ​have​ ​additions.​ ​Remember,​ ​these are​ ​your​ ​Championships​ ​and​ ​your​ ​input​ ​is​ ​important​ ​and​ ​most​ ​certainly​ ​is listened​ ​to​ ​and​ ​debated​ ​by​ ​the​ ​committee. 
 
Most​ ​importantly,​ ​if​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​health​ ​emergency​ ​at​ ​sea​ ​a​ ​safety​ ​boat​ ​should immediately​ ​be​ ​informed,​ ​or​ ​if​ ​close​ ​in​ ​immediately​ ​row​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Rachabite​ ​slip There​ ​are​ ​highly​ ​trained​ ​professionals​ ​at​ ​this​ ​location at​ ​all​ ​times​ ​during​ ​racing​ ​and​ ​our​ ​hospital​ ​is​ ​on​ ​heightened​ ​vigilance​ ​all 
weekend. 
 
Registration​ ​should​ ​be​ ​made​ ​via​ ​our​ ​website,​ ​www.world​ ​gigs.co.uk​ ​or​ ​in difficulty​ ​as​ ​usual​ ​by​ ​contacting​ ​Kevin. 
 
A​ ​very​ ​happy​ ​and​ ​successful​ ​New​ ​Year​ ​to​ ​you​ ​all​ ​and​ ​I​ ​hope​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​speak 
to​ ​many​ ​of​ ​you​ ​during​ ​the​ ​Championships​ ​weekend. 
 
Kind​ ​regards 
 
Rick​ ​Persich 
 
Chairman​ ​World​ ​Pilot​ ​Gigs​ ​Championships​ ​Committee
© World Pilot Gig Championships Commitee & Isles of Scilly Steamship Company 2006 : www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk