Atlantic Challenge in Pembrokeshire

The Pembrokeshire Gig Association  is an branch of the Atlantic Challenge International movement, a worldwide organisation for those with an interest in promoting traditional seamanship. Membership and sailing charges are nominal, as it is the ethos of Atlantic Challenge that no one should be prevented from taking part for reasons of cost.   Please see the Booking Details page,

The Atlantic Challenge is so called because it originated in a challenge between the United States and France in 1986 when a boat from these nations competed in a race off the Statue of Liberty.   The craft selected were copied from the only surviving historic gig.   This French vessel, now in the National Maritime Museum of the Irish Republic, was captured near Bantry in 1796 as the French attempted to invade UK via Ireland and Pembrokeshire.  

The movement now has members drawn from 30 nations, 12 of which posses their own gigs (Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Russia, the UK and the USA).   They meet biennially for a friendly contest of seamanship.   The last regatta in July 2004 was the first to be held in the United Kingdom, at Fishguard, and was the first to be won by the British crew.  The next international contest is to be held in July 2006 in Italy (Genoa).

Here in Pembrokeshire our Association offers gig rowing and sailing at nominal cost for all who would like to take part, but with the emphasis on young people. It does so with the County's own Gig, the ‘Cwch John Kerr’, built by shipwright students of the Milford Haven Community College (MITEC) and  with community support together with  funds raised by the community.

Details of  Membership of the Gig Association can be found here