We are raising funds for Weston-super-Mare’s Gig Club to buy two Cornish Pilot Gigs (sea rowing boats) to help the local community get more active, healthy and connected through rowing following the challenges of the COVID pandemic.

Who are we?

Our welcoming sea-rowing club is a sports, health and wellbeing-focused registered charity. The founding Trustees are all passionate watersports enthusiasts with long histories of encouraging community involvement in sport. Launched in spring 2022, the club smashed all targets and got almost 50 members practically overnight: higher than the predicted three-year target. The club now has members from their 30s to their 70s, and hopes to attract more members this year (and younger and youth members, too).

With many committed members and organisers, our crews and boat managed to attend events and regattas within months of launching, at other clubs and venues. Taking crews and supporters to compete in the Isles of Scilly’s Gig World Championships in 2024 is an ambition we’d love to achieve, but we need stability as a club to get there.

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The challenge? We need a boat!

Our current loan boat needs to be returned in early 2024. No boat equals no club, so we’re raising funds for two second-hand plastic gigs (boats) so that the club can survive and thrive at the heart of Weston’s waterfront community. Seeing people rowing across Weston Bay and on the River Axe creates much interest, though without a boat for future security, memberships are paused for now. Securing these boats will help us open up the joys of open-water rowing to more people than ever. ‘Blue water therapy’ and experiencing the club’s sense of community and camaraderie has the potential to bring such positive health and social benefits, especially to those impacted by the challenges of the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis.  

With two training gigs this year, we can increase membership and community participation without having to scale back or even fold the club once the hired boat goes back to the Cornish Pilot Gig Association. We’ll then be able to run competitive and social training sessions and events and to be as inclusive and accessible to as many people as possible.

Gym memberships can be costly and gyms and competitive sports clubs daunting, which is where Weston’s gig club comes in, with regular sea-rowing and social events running alongside the more competitive side of the club.

Covid in Weston

Weston-super-Mare had one of the highest rates of Covid during the pandemic. This, together with one of the highest rates of deprivation in North Somerset (and the UK as a whole), has left many in the town feeling isolated and lonely, their lifestyle restricted and less active than ever. Rowing is a very good way for people to build up their fitness and their confidence at their own pace, in a friendly and supportive environment. 

How we'll spend the money raised

Our club priority is to buy two second-hand plastic (GRP) gigs with the required seats, oars and safety equipment. Just like these gigs below. Second hand GRP gigs retail for anything between £8,000 and £12,000 and we intend to start the search for our first GRP gigs as soon as we go live with our Crowdfunder campaign.

The Mayor of Weston-super-Mare Councillor Sonia Russe enjoying a pilot seat row with the club.

Joining in a Lundy League gig race at Appledore - getting ready for the start. 

How you can help

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target and make this project a reality:

 1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to 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. If you want to run your own fundraiser to support us, 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!

Thanks for your attention and help making this Crowdfunder a success. 

Weston-Super-Mare Pilot Gig Club