Helford River Gig Club (HRGC) was formed in 1993 to provide gig rowing, a fun, sociable and exhilarating sport, to everyone in the local community. We welcome prospective members regardless of gender, ability and ethnicity, and age. We actively encourage novice rowers, and offer opportunities for both recreational and competitive rowing. The club promotes health and fitness through the sport of pilot gig rowing. The club is a full member of the Cornish Pilot Gig Association (CPGA).
We are immensely lucky in having a stunning river on which to row; providing us with an almost everyday opportunity for launching, rowing and recovery.
Helford River Gig Club is a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) run voluntarily by and for its membership. An elected group of trustees run the operations of the club supported by a wide range of other key roles. The membership fees and additional fund raising cover: boats, equipment, maintenance, insurance etc.
Our Facilities
Our clubhouse is in Gweek and has two function rooms with bar and fully equiped kitychen. The clubhouse also has a gym including free weights, 6 x Concept-2 rowing machines and a cross trainer, a boat shed, a boat container, ample parking, and a large field. The gym can be used by club members and available slots can viewed on the web site or booked via the Slots Coordinator. The full address of the clubhouse is: Chapel Hill, Gweek, Helston, TR12 7AE.
Our rowing takes place on the beautiful Helford River generally between the mouth of the river and Tremaine Quay and including the creeks that run off the main river. The two plastic training gigs are beached on Pedn Billy which is privately owned by Nigel and Tom Bligh, who kindly allow us to store the boats here which allows us to launch boats safely throughout the year in all weathers.
We share 'Urschela’s Shed' on Ferryboat Beach with Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust (HRCST). We call it the 'Oarshed' and it's here that we store safety equipment (VHF Radios, Lifejackets, First Aid Kits, boat sea safety bags) and spare oars. There are also two changing rooms and power supplies for making cups of tea in those cold winter months! Toilet facilities are kindly provided by the Ferry Boat Inn.