AS MOST of Britain wilted in near Saharan heat last weekend, many hardy, salty sea dogs of a flourishing gig rowing community, undeterred, merely slapped on some factor 50 and took to a crystalline though choppy Start Bay to compete over two hectic days of high octane thrills and spills in Brixham Regatta.

As a bloom of Octopi and jellyfish appeared in the harbour confines, an equally exotic and colourful blossom of elm-planked racing boats graced the pebbles of Breakwater Beach. The first day of the event was dedicated to the veteran category.

Teams travelled from all across the region and to demonstrate the importance of this esoteric age distinction crews from Bristol and London Cornish put in the miles to attend as well. The big boys and girls of Caradon and Falmouth also made the journey, adding a lustre of elitism to the ensuing hurley burley.

Dart fielded a strong contingent for this event with open crews and a powerful female presence too. While the men’s A team set the tone with a decisive win in their opening round, the B came sixth but bustled their way into a Plate race in which they were third, chased down mercilessly on the closing leg by a puissant “Nipper.”

The women enjoyed their racing, achieving a third and a sixth place in their heats. As always in a shared boat event, it was interesting for them to see the shoddy state of some rivals’ vessels. At the end of the first day, Dart Open A- the Men - graced the podium and a stage was set for “normal” categories on Sunday.

Perhaps inspired by this as dawn rose, Dart's female vets stormed the podium in the first contest of Sunday seizing the Laurel Wreath of victory, putting Lyme, Bridport and hosts Brixham metaphorically to the sword. Could the Maroon Machine, now rowing their own Volante, maintain this crazy energy?

Their Supervet compadres took to the task with alacrity but just missed the medals in fourth place, pipped to the line by far-travelling Dorset women. Now it was the turn of the youth to save the momentum.

The Under 16s have been the standout success of the season and are building to take the Club into the upper echelons of the Gig rowing world over the next decade. The Cornish Clubs, so long dominant, see the youthful Maroons progress and feel the fear, the end of an era of Trans-Tamrian rowing domination surely approaches.

However, Rome was not built in a day and though rowing their hearts out under a blistering sky, these aspiring tyros were beaten to the line by “The Young Fishers” - Brixham aboard the sleek-hulled “Florence,” and in addition Lyme. A bronze medal is not too shoddy regardless and this third place proves a great step forward.

Much racing followed and near the completion of this wonderful display of community spirit, the Darters produced a solid Gold triumph in the Men’s B race, leading to an overall win.

Pictured are the successful Dart Gig Club women.