Cornish Pilot Gigs are exceptional open water
rowing and sailing boats, made to venture out in big seas and
traditionally used as life/rescue boats, to deliver pilots to
incoming sailing vessels and to smuggle between the Cornish coast
and France. Two 32' gigs were built at Five Corners between 2004-2006.
Each gig is lapstrake planked with white cedar on oak ribs, using
over 1500 copper rivets and additional bronze screws, with an
Angelique keel, stem and sternpost. Nearly 50 men, women and youth
volunteered to work weekends under the direction of Nat Benjamin,
Ross Gannon and Myles Thurlow, to loft build, plank and finish
Grace and Cassie.
The group of over fifty rowers participating in this community
program, Rowing MV, has competed in the Weir River Race, the MV
Oar and Paddle Race, Round Minot Light Race, the Snow Row in Hull
and the Sail MV sponsored Vineyard Cup Pilot Gig Race. We are
working to further develop a youth rowing module through the schools.
