Regatta Reports

On Sunday 11th October, two of our junior crews entered the Junior International Championships hosted by Coxside Gig Club in Plymouth, with an Under 16 crew including Isabella, Georgie, Peter H, Oscar, Marnie and Ruben and an Under 14 crew …

By Chris Montford In September 2026, eight of our members took on a challenge not for the faint-hearted…and all in aid of a great cause, raising over £4,000 for the Brain Tumour Support charity. Read more below from Chris Montford, …

Written by Sarah Davies I joined the club last year and not long after this I went to the compound to lift boats onto the trailers for the GRR. I remember thinking "that sounds amazing, I'd love to do that" …

Thank you to Lucy Fiddick for this brilliant write-up of Ilfracome Regatta. "I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky…" Ilfracombe Gig Club have had a bit of an unfortunate run of regattas …

In May this year, Young Bristol embarked on another trip to Italy, this time plotting a route across Lake Lucerne, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. Thanks to Roger and Deb who have written the following accounts of their 2026 trip! …

Brixham delivered a scorcher for this year’s regatta, with clear skies and sunshine setting the tone fora full day of racing. The event was impressively well organised and drew a strong turnout, with clubsfrom across the region making the most …

On 30th May, Young Bristol set off on her very first European tour to beautiful Italy! Ahead lay 900 miles, a Eurotunnel, and two twelve-hour days on the road to her first destination: Gravedona ed Uniti, nestled on Lake Como. 

By Nick Wright. Appledore regatta was Gareth Bingham and my first real experience of a regatta (well technically I went to the Clevedon regatta last October, but given the conditions that felt more like an exercise in survival than actual …

A day out in the Helford Estuary. What a ridiculous way to spend a weekend, and what joy as a result.A large proportion of the valiant group of your rowing colleagues met at the Helston Premier Inn andindulged on a feast of onion rings and assorted …

https://youtu.be/LHO6lSO6eJw?si=KUSOAz8UgEbdMXSb ​​By First Time Gig ‘Championship-er’ – Jo Griffin Sunshine, tears, amazing camaraderie, laughter and friendships pretty much sum up my first experience of the World Pilot Gig Championships but hey that doesn’t make an interesting read so here's a …

June 3rd saw the launch of Cork Harbour festival with the spectacular 28km rowing and paddling race 'Ocean to City' and Bristol Gig Club were there!  An 8 strong mixed crew of Supervets and Masters joined over 550 international and national participants in a diverse array of paddling and rowing crafts to conquer the Rás Mór under the blazing sun. We were asked by the organisers to be bright and colourful so we took them at their word and were resplendent in hot pink with a matching flag that caught the eye, billowing from a flagpole in the stern. The course is a tough one and a real test of endurance as it leaves the calmer waters at the start to race out to the mouth of the harbour on  hoppy seas. After turning the route then goes back across open water to wind its way back into the city centre. Highlights enroute included rowing alongside a towering cruise ship in dock, "Proud Mary" being blasted from the shore (during which the stroke rate inexplicably picked up), being cheered along at various points byour support "crew" and the welcome sight of Blackrock Castle as we neared the end. Finisher's medals were proudly worn as we enjoyed the postrace craic and refreshments which were much needed after enduring hot weather conditions as well as the 28km!   Big thanks to Vyv and Mike for towing Young Bristol to Cork and to Lisa for co-ordinating. 

The Journey (Lisa) What could possibly go wrong? Hundreds of gig rowers heading to a small island shrouded in fog … ferries and flights … cancellations coming in thick and fast. Somehow, and I still can’t work it out, I …