The May Bank Holiday weekend witnessed an exhilarating display of oarsmanship and head-to-head competition as the 2024 World Pilot Gig Championships (WPGC) descended upon the picturesque Isles of Scilly. This renowned event, steeped in Cornish rowing tradition, attracts teams from across the globe to compete in thrilling races that can stretch anywhere from 3 to 20 miles along the stunning Scilly coastlines.
Among the contenders was an American team hailing from Belfast’s Come Boating, a spirited community organisation dedicated to the joys of rowing. Their Super Vets team, comprising seasoned rowers ranging from the ages of 56 to 71 years young, made their mark on this international stage – a new destination for all of them – under the skilled coxing of Logan Perkins.
We’re delighted to report that the Come Boating crew found a home away from home at our very own Karma St. Martin’s: the perfect setting from some beachfront post-rowing R&R with its ocean-view accommodation and, award-winning dining at the Sir Cloudesley Shovell restaurant.
Plus, we were joined by another team hailing from the Netherlands, aboard the Double Dutch! Here is some information about the team, shared by their captain:
“Our rowing team is called Alleman. We are a men’s team formed in 2017 and have participated since then in the Dutch national championship for pilot gig rowing. This is organised by the Dutch Pilot Gig Association, more or less similar to the Cornish Pilot Gig Association. Our best performance was a 3rd in the Dutch Championship in 2022.
We attended the Championships because last year we felt like part of a huge rowing family. We competed this year in both the Super Veterans (above 50 years of age) and Open races at the Scilly Islands (all ages). The competition is only when we are on the water, not when the boats are on the beach.
With more than 100 boats in the open race, it is quite spectacular and is only done here at the Scilly Islands. We chose to reside at Karma St. Martin’s during the Championships. Interestingly, a women’s rowing team from the same club also competed in the event.
Our team consists of six male rowers and one female cox: Gea Helmus is our regular cox during races, Martijn Vintges is on stroke, right behind him (2nd stroke) is Bas Kreuger, in the middle of the boat – we call that the engine – we find Ernst-Jan Buis en Dirk Velthuijsen and then there are two bow rowers, Cees Baak en Glijn van Marion.”
We hope that the Karma Group Members staying with us over the weekend enjoyed witnessing the thrill of competition, Cornish culture and cosmopolitan camaraderie while basking in the luxury of Karma’s world-class amenities.
