Scilly hotting up for World Gig Championships

The eyes of the fixed-seat rowing world will be firmly focused on the Isles of Scilly this weekend, for the 2013 World Pilot Gig Championships.

The 24th World Championships get underway tomorrow with a record-breaking 132 gigs set to take part in the iconic contest – more than double the number of entrants in 2003.

A number of races will take place across the weekend, with Ladies’ and Men’s Veterans races taking place on Friday (May 3rd), and Open Men’s and Ladies’ racing taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Falmouth Pilot Gig Club will travel to Scilly hoping for an unprecedented triple – claiming its third consecutive titles in both the Men’s and Women’s open events.

The defending world champions can expect a rough ride, however, with Caradon aiming to wrestle back the Men’s title that its top boat has won a record 12 times previously.

Island crews claimed both Men’s and Ladies’ Vets titles in 2012, but Falmouth, Flushing & Mylor and Helford will be among the mainland crews looking to steal back the Masters crowns this year.

With clear skies and choppy water predicted for the weekend, the 2013 World Championships promise to provide an absorbing and fiercely-contest landmark in the fixed-seat racing calendar.

BBC Radio Cornwall and Radio Scilly will both be providing the latest news and commentary throughout the weekend, with news and views also posted regularly at http://gigrower.co.uk.

A range of photos from the Islands are already available at www.scillytoday.com/2013/05/02/wpgc-2013-the-calm-before-the-storm