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Boxing Day Swim
A number of us joined in the Boxing Day Swim in fancy dress! See the Gallery for more photographs.
Our New Wooden Gig !
We are all getting very excited at Sidmouth Gig Club as our second boat is going to be delivered soon ready for a launch in March! It is now fully built and will be painted very soon. We are very lucky to have had Maurice Hunkin and his son Louis as our boat builders, they are well known Cornish gig boat builders in Fowey who allowed some of our committee members to see the boat yard and choose the timbers that are being used for the gig - as well as learn a bit about gig building! As launching will be on pebbles it was decided to opt for a slightly harder timber for the keel but to keep the boat light to allow easy lifting up the beach. A wooden gig will allow Sidmouth to enter competitions and regattas and ultimately the world championships in the Isles of Scilly. Our great thanks go to all our sponsors, especially to the Keith Owen Fund for their generous support which allowed us to move ahead with the order this year.
We had Great Fun at our Wine Tasting Social Event !
Thank you to everybody who came along to the wine tasting in November. It was a great evening, and a great thanks to Wine World of Honiton for allowing us to sample some amazing wines. A big thank you to the local businesses that helped support this event - Hayman's, Vinnicombes and Winchesters - and to all those that helped with raffle prizes donations - Co-op, Hair Design, Delderfields, Fields, Potburys, Pure Indulgence, Ken & Liz Goodwin, Sidmouth Trawlers, Sweet Temptations & Winchesters - and to the Masons for the use of the hall. An exceedingly jolly time was had by all! The Baron Rothschild Escudo Rojo just about came out as favourite on the night!
Alma's Cornish Sojurn - Racing on the Helford River
The last flush of summer saw Sidmouth’s rowing gig Alma leave the valley to make her debut on the Cornish Pilot Gig scene. Ladies rowing Captain Lynn Bagwell and her eager crew of 4 men and 2 ladies, handpicked for their brawn and beauty, made the long trek to the picturesque Helford estuary to compete in the renowned Head of the River race. The race runs from the mouth of the river near Durgan and follows the meandering course to Gweek, passing by tree lined banks and quiet tributaries epitomised by Daphne Du Maurier in her novel. There was an air of excitement and apprehension as the crew assembled on the small sandy beach at Helford passage, already packed full with colourful gigs and crews from all over Cornwall and beyond. A race of 4½ miles would be by far and away the longest row that anyone from Sidmouth had undertaken, so it was a step into the unknown regarding stamina and pacing. A lively atmosphere prevailed as the several hundred competitors and supporters awaited the launch. Crews started at intervals based on a predetermined handicap, intended to enable teams to cross the finish en masse. Unfortunately, an unavoidable delay saw Alma late on the water and catch up was the order of the day from the start. Cox James Hutchings first task was to curb the enthusiasm of the crew who set off with great gusto in pursuit of the opposition. Initially rowing into a gusty wind and sea, the gig really started to shift as she crossed the start line and headed upstream. Ruth Pearson set a steady but challenging rate at Stroke which was ably matched by Paul Beerling at 5. Early smiles were gradually replaced with steely determination and beads of sweat as the Cox consulted the chart and confirmed the half way point some 20 minutes into the race. By this stage the opposition were fast disappearing round the bends in the river but far from losing heart Alma’s crew dug deep into their previously untapped reserves, Neil Ryder and Andy Vanstone led by example bending to their oars in the powerhouse positions at 3 and 4. As the river twisted and shallowed in the headwaters it also became a race against the tide, the priority being to reach the finish before it dried out to mud. The closing 20 minutes flashed by as aches and blisters were suppressed and the crew sensed the finish. Lynn Bagwell and Simon Greenslade in the bow lifted the spirits with a final witty quip and a last hefty catch saw Alma surge across the line. After reciprocating the traditional cheer with the opposition, the crew drew much needed breath and reflected on a deep sense of achievement. Following a short wait Alma came ashore and, with the aid of a highly organised Helford gig club, was soon delivered to the club house. The host’s hospitality was superb and Sidmouth were made very welcome gaining many new acquaintances at the prize giving. The winning gig from Falmouth completed the course in 33 minutes and Alma’s crew achieved a creditable time of 43 minutes. Putting the distance into perspective this was equivalent to rowing from Sidmouth to Beer Head without resting. Finally thanks to Lynn Bagwell for organising the crew and towing Alma to Cornwall for what hopefully will become a regular event in the Sidmouth Gig Club calendar.
Alma's 1st Birthday!
A huge thank you to members, partners, friends and relations who donned their pinnies and gave us a magnificent show of cakes to celebrate Alma's 1st Birthday at the bank holiday weekend - over £400 was raised. Lynn - the birthday cake was brilliant !! With a fantastic display of rowing all afternoon which was enjoyed by the spectators on the beach and seafront, we are now looking forward to the next year and the arrival of our 2nd gig! Thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success.
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