Sixteen members of the Dart Gig Club made the journey to the Isles of Scilly to take part in the 23rd World Championships. The championships attract over 2,000 rowers from clubs all over the South West and as far afield as the Netherlands.

Over 120 gigs have to be shipped to the islands over a four-month period. Dart's first gig Volante was shipped at the beginning of March and Lightning made the journey in April.

Racing takes place over three days with the veteran races in the Friday evening.

The ladies' veterans A finished 19th out of 59 crews and second in the supervets category (over 50) and the ladies' vets B finished 25th out of 53 crews.

Men's vets finished 19th out of 64.

On Saturday and Sunday there are four more races. The weather on both days was bright and sunny, with rowing on Saturday being a little tricky for the newer rowers, with a fresh north-easterly wind blowing down between the islands.

The wind died overnight and Sunday was a stunning day, contrary to the forecast, and the weather in the rest of the country!

The first long race in from St Agnes always provides a spectacle. The start line is now nearly a mile in length.

Dart's two ladies crews were in different areas on the start line and as the crews approached St Mary's harbour both boats were neck and neck.

After three further short races in from Nut Rock the ladies' A finished 58th, and the ladies' B 91st out of 125. The men finished 66th out of 120.

The ladies A and men improved their results on last year, the ladies improving their placing by seven places and the men by 27 places, showing that the training and hard work since Christmas has paid off. These are very commendable placings for a small club.

Ladies' squad: Peta Chivers, Clare Thorp, Maggie Trubshaw, Jo Haydn, Amanda Dyer, Mary Eames, Jody Newstead, Carol Squire, Liz Moseley, Paula Hine, Shirley Waycott, coxed by Paul Kunert and Martin from Mevagissey

Men's squad: Paul Kunert, Jonny Holmes, Simon Tozer, Stan Bray, Mike Dawe and Frazer coxed by Clare Thorp and Jody Newstead.

The club would like to thank the following rowers who stepped and joined the Dart crews when they were short: Sharon Jarvis of Salcombe for the ladies supervets, Tony Bateman and Geoff from Paignton for the men's vets, Frazer and Mike from Looe for the men's.