Falmouth Pilot Gig Club Academy

Aim

To launch a youth rowing academy for ages 11–18, increasing participation and providing a clear pathway into senior gig rowing.

Who are we?

Falmouth Pilot Gig Club is an open, inclusive, and driven sports club based on the waterfront in the centre of Falmouth. Our location gives us access to both sheltered harbour waters and challenging open conditions, allowing rowing to take place year-round in all types of weather.

The club offers a wide range of opportunities, from social rowing for enjoyment and fitness through to competitive rowing at the highest level of the sport. This breadth is central to who we are — providing a place for people to row, develop, and belong, whatever their ambition.

Founded over 30 years ago, the club has built a strong reputation within the gig rowing world, with sustained success across open and women’s categories and across multiple age groups.

Much of this success has been built on a strong junior and youth section, and a long-standing focus on developing home-grown rowers and supporting their progression into established competitive crews. This approach has helped embed gig rowing deeply within the local community and remains central to the club’s identity.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We are crowdfunding to launch a first-of-its-kind junior gig rowing academy at Falmouth Pilot Gig Club.

Like many sports, we see a significant drop-off in participation between the ages of around 15 and 19, particularly when moving from age-group rowing into senior rowing. Our aim is to address this by creating a clear, supported pathway that not only attracts young rowers but gives them the confidence, skills, and motivation to continue rowing into adulthood.

The Academy will deliver a high-quality on-water training programme, led by existing junior coaches alongside experienced championship rowers. This will be supported by a mentoring programme, allowing younger athletes to learn not only about rowing, but also to receive guidance and support from older peers who have already progressed through the sport.

Alongside this, Academy members will have access to off-water training equipment and a dedicated youth strength and conditioning programme, helping to develop well-rounded, robust athletes with transferable skills.

In addition to physical training, we are partnering with local providers to deliver an off-water education programme, covering areas such as navigation, chart work, local hazards, and on-water first aid, giving young rowers a deeper understanding of the environment they train in.

Finally, the Academy aims to work collaboratively with established local sliding seat and CRA clubs, helping young athletes succeed in whichever rowing discipline they choose.

At its core, this project is about retention first — keeping young people rowing, whether at Falmouth or elsewhere, and supporting them through a critical stage in their development.

How we’ll spend the money raised

All funds raised through this campaign will go directly into the FPGC Academy and will be used solely to purchase the equipment needed to deliver the programme.

No funding will be used to pay coaches, staff, or volunteers. All delivery is provided by the club and its members.

The funding will support three key areas:

• A GRP training pilot gig
  A new plastic training gig will allow all Academy rowers to be on the water at the same time, increasing participation, consistency, and safety while protecting the club’s wooden racing boats.
• A new set of oars
  To ensure safe, reliable, and appropriate equipment for Academy training sessions.
• Rowing jackets and splash jackets
  Providing suitable kit for young rowers to train year-round in a safe and comfortable way, regardless of conditions.

This investment will create a solid equipment base that allows the Academy to operate safely, inclusively, and sustainably from the outset.

Community impact

Falmouth Pilot Gig Club plays an important role within the Falmouth community, providing regular access to sport, physical activity, and the local maritime environment for people of all ages.

The Academy will extend this impact by supporting young people aged 11–18 at a key stage where many drop out of sport. By offering structure, consistency, and a clear pathway, the project helps keep young people active, engaged, and connected to their community.

The Academy benefits:

• Young people, by improving physical health, confidence, teamwork, and resilience
• Families, by providing a positive, structured activity rooted in the local area
• The wider club, by strengthening long-term participation and volunteering
• The local community, by preserving and passing on a traditional Cornish water sport

By investing in shared equipment, the project also protects existing resources and supports year-round activity on the water. The Academy helps ensure gig rowing remains accessible, inclusive, and sustainable, allowing a sport deeply rooted in Falmouth’s heritage to continue benefiting future generations.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality. Sport England and the Movement Fund are providing 50% match funding for the total raised, so everything you can donate will be doubled!

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made