the World Champs

A men’s and a women’s crew are heading to the Isles of Scilly this late April, to take part in the gig rowing community’s 2025 World Championships. A few club members have attended the championships before, either as rowers for other clubs (Kerry with a Clevedon crew in 2022 and a scratch crew in 2024, Chick with the Help for Heroes crew in 2024, and Rich coxing for other clubs), but this is the first time that Weston Gig Club is sending its own boat and crews. GO TEAM!

The World Championships involves one long opening race, in which around 120 boats form one incredible line-up across the ocean, after which all clubs end up in a heat, usually featuring 12 boats. The competition then hots up with further races taking place over the bank holiday weekend, culminating in epic podium spots not just for the top three in each race category, but for the winner of each heat. So you could be in the bottom heat, win that, and still get podium glory! Race categories are Under 25s, Women’s and Men’s Open, Women’s and Men’s Vets (rowers who are 40+), Women’s and Men’s Supervets (50+), and Masters (60+) races.

It really is incredible how far the club has come in the few short years since its inception, and we wish the crews well. If you’d like a shot at competing in the Cornish Pilot Gig World Championships in the Isles of Scilly in 2026, your first step is to join Weston Gig Club. You’ve got to be in it to win it, after all! You can come down for a couple of trial rows (see our FAQ for how that all works) then if you enjoy it and would like to become a full member, we’d love to have you.

For now, get inspired with this video of one of the Finals, from the World Championships back in 2018 (best footage I could find!).