Crystal clear waters, breathtaking scenery and over 50 isles and islets make Scilly a popular sailing destination. There are numerous coves, and safe anchorages around all the islands plus St. Mary's Harbour which is privately owned.
PILOT GIGS
When Ships were made of Wood and Men were made of Iron!
The First Pilot Gig Boats were built in the 18th century with the purpose of taking a pilot out to a sailing ship and putting him aboard to carefully navigate ships into safe waters. Pilotage on Scilly was for many years the main source of living with a general rule that the first man aboard got the job and of course the rewards that came with it.
All Scillonian gigs and Cornish gigs were made of Cornish Elm and are approximately 30 feet in length and 5 feet in beam. They were built for hard work; had to withstand heavy seas, yet were required to be fast and stable.
Gigs were sometimes used in conjunction with Pilot cutters. These are larger boats that would tow the Gig closer to the oncoming ship then they would transfer the crew of the gig onboard for the race to the ship.
Pilotage in Scilly was a hazardous occupation and until the arrival of a lifeboat on St. Agnes Scillonian gigs were synonymous with saving and loss of life.
Pilot gigs were also used for smuggling and salvage. Gigs often rowed to France and contraband tobacco and spirits were also exchanged for fresh vegetables and eggs. In fact gigs were banned from having eight oars as the custom and excise couldn't catch them!
Gigs were also used in salvage. Anything that could be salvaged from the sea from cattle to grand pianos brought in wealth to the islands, and the church on St. Agnes was built in the nineteenth century using the proceeds of the sale of a wreck. The church bell was also taken from the same wreck.
Gig Racing today
In 1963 two men, Noel Jenkins and Barry Fairest wrote to Newquay Rowing Club to ask if they could borrow two gigs for the forthcoming water carnival in St. Mary's Harbour. Newquay agreed and loaned back to Scilly the Bonnet (1830) and the Shah (1873)
Newquay did eventually want the gigs back but settled for a new gig in return for the two old gigs. Interest was so high that this restarted men's gig racing on a Friday evening.
Today, ladies race on Wednesday evenings and men on Fridays throughout the summer months. There are numerous races such as swap races, triangle races and special trophies all up for grabs. This is an unmissable experience and spectator boats follow each race so you can cheer for your favourite crew.
Our latest underwater surveys have uncovered a range of rare sea creatures ... Divers from across the South West have spent June 19-27 surveying the reefs and tidal channels around the Isles of Scilly, including sites that had never previously been dived. The Seasearch surveys form part of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust's Marine Biodiversity Project which aims to increase knowledge of nationally important marine habitats beneath Scilly's seas. Follow this link and read all about the discoveries!
- Sail, Surf, and Dive Scilly
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Information about sailing, surfing, and diving here on the Isles of Scilly
© 2008 Simply Scilly
