Gigs were recognised as one of the first shore-based lifeboats, that went to vessels in distress, with recorded rescues going back as far as the late 17th century. The original purpose of the pilot gig was as a general work boat, and the craft is used as a taking pilots out to incoming vessels off the coast. At the time pilots would compete between each other for work; the fastest gig crew who got their pilot on board a vessel first would get the job, and hence the payment.

The first wooden boats were made locally, and raced coast-guard boats in Regattas organised by visiting businessmen. These boats were stored in an empty coastguard shed on the West Pier before permanent premises were obtained in 1874 on the nearby Foreshore Road. Taken over from the local lodge of the Grand Order of Druids, the building was developed for rowing purposes.

The heavy fishing cobles have been replaced with racing gigs which apart from being clinker built, bear little resemblance to their predecessors.

The modern-day boat is ‘light’ and fast, with provision for four oarsmen and a cox. (Differing to our Cornish counterparts who row with six oarsmen and no riggers or collars for their oars). Fixed seats and wooden oars are part of the boat design, and the exposed position of the rowers results in wetting in all but the calmest seas!

The Scarborough Amateur Rowing Club is the oldest surviving Rowing Club on the North East Coast. Sadly only 3 clubs in the world race the ”Whitby Gig”. 2 clubs in Whitby and here in Scarborough.

Maintaining that tradition is central to rowing on the Yorkshire coast and in the North Sea.

The new sport of ‘Coastal Beach Sprint rowing’ has been included at the 2028 Los Angles Olympics.

Modern Coastal Rowing – rowing with a sliding seat – in singles, doubles and Quads, started probably, in France at the end of the 1980s from an idea of the ocean navigator Gerard D’Aboville. Together with a technical committee, which included the Monegasque Jannot Antognelli and the Marseillais Denis Masseglia, boats and rules were developed. They are members of the International Rowing Federation (FISA ) since 1992. Some Americans say modern coastal rowing got its start in the 1970s, with the development of the Alden Ocean Shell. Initially intended to be the most stable and efficient hull design for recreational rowing.

In fact, the original idea was to replace the wooden yole, that is the narrow rowing boats typical of rowing, with boats capable of withstanding a sea stirred by waves and wind. Thus, the Yole de Mer was born, with one, two and four rowers and a cox. It began to appear on the Southern Coast of France and soon after on the Atlantic Coast and in the French overseas colonies.

Scarborough ARC are proud to have two Swift CO2x 202A double scull’s, coastal boats, with folding riggers, a qualified British Rowing Coastal Rowing Coach and have recently secured British Rowing Academy Status.

If you are an established classic, slide boat rower, coastal rower or indeed would just love to try coastal rowing, please contact us.