Sailing Season 2011

 

Activities in 2010

 

In 2010 the gig took part in an event called “Rising Tide”  which is a European Interreg Project whose aim was to offer unemployed and those not in training education experience working with boats, engines &  marine industries.  Richard James of the Milford Haven Port Authority was acting as coordinator and it was also to connect the various marine Celtic communities in West Wales. The gig was  present at five events throughout the summer, and it was successful with all the expenses covered. Not much sailing in the summer was possible due to the poor weather.

 

Activities for 2011

 

Maintenance began in about March with launching after Easter.  The Gig took  part in the Semaine du Golfe, in Brittany  in June. See the report below. The Gig is to take part on 30th July in the Neyland Yacht Club centenary celebrations.

 

Semaine du Golfe 2011

GIG RACING ON THE MORBIHAN   - a personal reminiscence by Sydney Bracken

The decision to become involved with gig racing brought out aspects of my character that had never surfaced before. Moreover, it took me on a journey to a part of the world, the Morbihan (meaning small sea), that is full of the most spectacular coastal views, and presented all those dreamlike promises to be found in any holiday brochure, but which are rarely fulfilled.

The first day of the week-long festival was a procession of boats from the ancient port of Vannes to the second largest island: the Ile d’Arz. As our gig, the Cwch John Kerr, had a surplus of volunteers, my wife and I caught the ferry which, from the top deck, provided a commanding view of both the frenetic activity on the water and the breathtaking sight of many of the 30-40 islands (depends how you count them).

Someone mentioned, shortly after our arrival, that there were over two thousand boats gathered in one of Ile d’Arz’s bays. Whatever, it was a magnificent sight with an array of ships and boats that delighted the eye whilst we shuffled along in the queue for the specially prepared local food. This, it should be added, to the accompaniment of the inimitable Morbihannais repertoire of music, dance and song.

Thursday, however, was the day that the Pembrokeshire crew excelled themselves. It consisted of a team of both sexes, (including boatbuilding students from MITEC), that had never practised together before and with an age-range of eighteen to seventy odd. With the cox at one end of the 38ft boat, with mast and crew in between, it is not possible for him to have a clear view of the boat’s direction, so I fulfilled the role of lookout as we sailed to Port Navalo. What followed, after lunch, was an experience that I will never forget. The various gigs, representing many nations, competed in an eight-mile rowing race to Port Blanc en Baden.

I have to confess that I was not too enthusiastic to take up the invitation on the rowing benches. It offered, it seemed to me, nothing but an exhausting, backbreaking labour that would cause sores in every sensitive parts of my body. Nevertheless, I took up my position and, with grim resolve, set out to cause as little disruption to the clock-work like precision of the oars as they moved in unison to the command of the cox. Before long, I found that I actually enjoyed the experience and rapidly gained confidence in what I was doing. Nor, to my immense surprise, did I find the effort of rowing to be the least bit tiring. What is more, I got caught up in the intense thrill of the race and I soon heard myself shouting encouragement to the others.

Then the real fun began. All of a sudden the water changed from a glacial calm to a turbulence in the water that must surely equal the notorious “bitches” in Ramsay Sound. And just as suddenly, all became calm again. This phenomenon, caused by the wind blowing against the high spring tide and forcing it through a narrow gap in the land before swirling it into eddies around the many islands of the Golfe, was repeated again and again causing the boat to behave almost drunkenly as it lurched in every direction and requiring a very firm, and skilful, hand on the tiller.

But, I must return to the race itself. This, at first sight, motley crew was rapidly gaining ground on the other boats and even overtaking them. What added to the hazardous nature of the race, unnecessarily, were the number of small motor boats that passed us at speed, causing the boat to rock alarmingly and, occasionally, putting us off our collective stroke. One voice was heard to mutter darkly, whether the Gloire de France, was really that vital?

Despite all the obstacles, and to what most of us appeared to be superior odds, we got to the finishing line first. The crew from Wales was ecstatic in its unexpected triumph that was then capped with a short speech from the cox, Mike Williams, who talked of his pride and delight at how well the team had performed – so far beyond expectations. I am sure I saw a tear, or two, roll down his cheek.

As we waited for the other boats to arrive, and more than one suffered the indignity of a tow, the panorama of an anarchic, but glorious sight of so many hundreds of craft, which included crowded ferry boats, three- and four-masted riggers, yachts of all sizes and description and those pesky motor boats racing at break-neck speed in every direction, is a sight that will remain forever in my memory. How serious collision was avoided amid this glorious chaos, although Gallic cries of alarm constantly filled the air as boats took avoiding action (with varying degrees of success), I am at a loss to understand, but it was wonderful.

I could go on and pour praise upon other aspects of our time in Morbihan – the people, the culture and its history. Unfortunately, there is not sufficient space here for that as I must, and I know I speak for everyone who attended the event, that we owe fulsome praise to Bill Keppel-Compton for making all the necessary arrangements for the trip, and hope that the reason for his doctor’s orders, preventing travel, will soon be overturned. Mike, our cox, who stepped in at very short notice, thus saving the whole enterprise from cancellation, deserves a very special thank you. Thanks also to Mitec for providing us with a wonderful group of students who were outstanding in their commitment to the project and who proved to be valuable members of the team, but also very entertaining to boot. I can’t wait for the next gig in 2013.

Volunteers

However, as you know, to manage the vessel safely each outing requires a cox and two other capable crew, all volunteers.    Our volunteers are now thin on the ground and have other demands on their time besides the Gig.   Despite our ongoing efforts no person has come forward yet from any organisation or club that we have approached who is prepared to train to be a cox.  So numerous organisations want to go out, but expect us to provide both the vessel and cox. So we keep trying and in the meantime the frequency of our Gig outings has to be governed by the availability, or otherwise, of a handful of our volunteers.

 

Geoff Browning, Bosun & Vice Chairman