8 oared pilot gigs

[Mike Newmeyer]

Does anyone have any information on 8 oared pilot gigs. I know that thay were outlawed in 1829.

[Nicholas Carey]

Does anyone have any information on 8 oared pilot gigs. I know that thay were outlawed in 1829.outlawed? by who?

"When gigs are outlawed, only pirates will have gigs. Aaargh!"

[Clencher]

As I understand it 8 oared gigs were outlawed at the behest of HM Revenue and Customs and were subsequently limited to 6 oars.

There was concern that the 8 oared gigs would out-run the Customs craft who would then be unable to check if they were smuggling contraband goods. (Perish the thought!)

Gig racing in the UK is becoming more and more popular - using 6 oared gigs built to a tight spec.

[katiedobe]

I bet they are still outlawed in the UK.

Isn't there an organization that promotes these things for kids to build.
Something like "Atlantic Challenge".
http://www.atlanticchallenge.dk/billeder/13.jpg


How many oars here? Looks like 10.

[Jay Greer]

I became interested in the Cornwall Gigs some forty years ago when The Rudder ran an article on them. The boats are beautiful but it is the skill of the oarsmen that makes them so fascinating. They would put to sea in the most fearsome weather in order to rescue survivors of foundering ships. Some of the old boats are now approaching 125 years in age or more!
Being built on Wyche elm they seem to be indestructible! During the height of smuggling activity they were rowed across the channel.
The revenue cutters could not catch them as they would mearly row dead to weather when being chased. Hence the mandate that the Cornwall and Newquay gigs be limited to six oars. New boats are now being built and there is a renewed interest in gig racing. Some of the old boats are still active and there is a rewnewed interest in racing them as well. The "Sliffin" now over 125 in age is still one of the fastest boats. When newly built she once was moved overland to race at Newquay. But when the competition saw that slippery hull for the first time, they conceded the race without the boat ever getting wet!
http://www.starten.com/
Jay

[Woxbox]

The Atlantic Challenge it is:
http://www.atlanticchallenge.org/

The kids don't generally build the boats, but they do row and sail them competitively against each other. The model they use is the Bantry Bay gig, 10 oars. So far as I know, the revenue agents have not caught any of them.