Karma St. Martin’s has unveiled a striking new addition to its collection of maritime treasures: a meticulously crafted 1/12th scale model of Galatea, one of the Isles of Scilly’s most storied pilot gigs. Hand-built and hand-decorated by The Gig Economy – an Oxford-based family business that specialises in building models of Cornish Pilot Gigs.
The model follows the much-admired Dolphin, another historic gig whose model display has captivated guests since its arrival. Dolphin, built in 1969 for the St. Mary’s Pilot Gig Club, went on to race in countless inter-island regattas, earning admiration for her speed and resilience—and her model quickly became a talking point at Karma St. Martin’s, sparking curiosity about the living gig tradition.
Galatea is no less storied. Built in 1831 by the renowned St. Mary’s boatbuilder William Peters, she is the oldest surviving pilot gig still in regular racing use. At nearly two centuries old, she embodies the origins of gig rowing itself, when rival crews competed fiercely for piloting rights. Today, she continues to race under St. Mary’s Gig Club, bridging past and present.
The new model honours that legacy—an exquisite piece of craftsmanship that embodies heritage, artistry, and the enduring bond between community and sea. Guests don’t just admire it—they step into the story it tells.
