Funding helps gig racing events become bigger and better.

 Wave of Events project

“It will bring a new element to the championships this year…” – Euan Rodger, Islands’ Partnership/Visit Scilly

The Good Growth Programme has invested £135,000, from the Cultural Events and Talent Programme Fund, in the Cornish Pilot Gig Association’s Wave of Events project to develop a calendar of gig racing events across Cornwall and Scilly.

This includes the World Pilot Gig Championships on the Isles of Scilly where Good Growth support has helped create a new fan zone for supporters to follow the races on land.

It’s believed the Wave of Events project is making the gig racing events bigger and better and at the recent World Pilot Gig Championship 441 crews took part with more than 3,000 rowers.

Holding the event on the islands takes a lot of organising and that is done by volunteers on the WPGC Committee in collaboration with the Islands Partnership and the Cornish Pilot Gig Association, the CPGA.

Euan Rodger, Islands’ Partnership / Visit Scilly, says: “Through Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Fund and their kind contribution to this event, we’ve created a new fan zone viewing area for the championships.

“It is in the park, in the centre of town, with a big screen TV and bar facility. It will allow people another area in order to participate off the water and manage to watch the championships from a safe fun area.

“It will bring a new element to the championships this year we hope.”

The Wave of Events project plans to bring exciting developments with more opportunities for young people to get involved. Plans include junior camps, school challenges and on the water competitions.

The project team is gearing up for more rowers and spectators to join us in the coves, harbours and beaches at our traditional events and new ones like the Senior Summer.

The project is also providing training and workshops for Coxes, race officials and club volunteers – the people who make these events possible.

To find out more about the events visit the website.

This project is made possible thanks to a £135,000 investment from the Good Growth Programme, funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.