This year saw the annual World Pilot Gig Championships in the Isles of Scilly celebrating 26 years of racing.

Yet again, the number of gigs shipped to the islands increased. It was mentioned that the number of boats and participants has now reached saturation point.

Crews from the Netherlands, Ireland and the USA gave the event an international flavour. Dart Gig Club again shipped all three of their gigs, with three ladies' crews and two men's crews attending. 

The weather was very inclement – with fog, rain and strong winds. The racing began with the usual Friday night vets races – with the ladies going out for the first race of the championships.

The club put out two vets crews this year. There was a big swell running, which made for tricky rowing conditions. There were 61 boats in the ladies' line-up.

Unfortunately for the vets A crew, they were drawn in lane four, which put them out in the worst of the weather.

It was a long, hard slog before they reached the shelter of St Marys, at which point they started to pull up through the fleet. They finally came in 13th.

The ladies' vets B crew were drawn in lane two and had a slightly more comfortable row coming in towards the back of the fleet.

The men's race followed and they were drawn in lane two where again, the water was a little easier. It took a while before the crew found the right stroke rate – with Adrian Bailo stroking his first race in Scilly, but once they settled into a rhythm, they had a great row coming in in a very creditable third place out of 48.

The supervets had to borrow two rowers (one Dutchman) to make up the numbers. They were guest coxed by Helen from Catte­water and they were pleased with their position of 14th out of 21. 

The main races followed on Saturday and Sunday. The day dawn­ed grey and windy and overnight, the wind had come round which made for even more interesting seas.

The first long race in from St Agnes always provides a spectacle with 143 boats lining up for the ladies race giving a start line of a mile long.

The ladies' A, in Vo­lante, had an excellent race, coming home an excellent 14th which put them in the B group.

The ladies' B, rowing in Smudger, came in group I, and the ladies C rowing in Lightning, with two Scilly novices and two borrowed ladies, enjoyed their race and were placed in group L.

The following three races are shorter sprint races, in from Nut Rock off Tresco. The first race is on Saturday afternoon and the following two on Sunday. Both days saw very tricky seas, with swell and chop making things difficult.

The ladies' A rowed well and were delighted that all their hard work paid off to finish 22nd.

The ladies' B and ladies' C crews both enjoyed their rowing further down the fleet. There was a small glimmer of sunshine on Sunday afternoon – just to prove to the Scilly novices how beautiful the islands are!

The men's crews both had excellent races in the St Agnes race and the subsequent heats.

The tricky seas continued to tax everyone, but they all dug deep and found a little bit more to produce very pleasing results – the men's A in 30th and the men's B in 91st.

Further bad weather meant that many of the rowers were delayed by a day or two getting off the islands. Part of the joy of racing in the Scilly isles. A great weekend was enjoyed by all. Thanks to all who made the event possible for us – especially the towers. 

Ladies' A: Tracy Sha­ram, Alison Bland, Ella Chivers, Katharine Money, Bonnie Chivers and Lucy Swash coxed by Dave Sharam.

Ladies' B: Peta Chi­vers, Clare Thorp, Ca­rol Squire, Liz Moseley, Robyn Pyne and Katie Lillington coxed by Paul Kunert

Ladies' C: Maggie Russell, Annie Wors­fold, Tracy from Brix­ham and Liz from Fal­mouth, Camilla McGo­wan-Scanlon and Claire Coltrini coxed by Steve Marshall from Brix­ham. 

Men's A: Adrian Bailey, Dave Sharam, Chris Gale, Rupert Kempley, Andy Pome­roy and Jon Pope

Men's B: Paul Kun­ert, Stan Bray, Michael Bryant-Mole, Tony Doidge, with guest rowers Nick and Phil and coxed by Mark from Swanage.