SUCH is the growing popularity of gig rowing in Coverack, the club is investing in a third gig.

The much anticipated new boat is being built by Dave Currah of Looe (the builder of one of the club's existing gigs Lark) and will cost £23,000.00 .

To meet the costs for the gig and kit such as trailer, cover and oars, members have hosted a variety of community events to raise funds.

They have received great support locally, from the general public and also St Keverne Parish Council and Goonhilly Windfarm Community Fund, in addition to a grant from Sport England who were keen to fund projects which keep young people under 25 in active sport.

Over the past nine years or so the Junior section of Coverack Gig Club has gone from strength to strength with current numbers standing at around 30 regulars training at Porthoustock throughout the summer.

These juniors have become hugely successful, with both the under-14 and under-16 crews repeatedly achieving great results at regattas and championship events .

As these juniors enter the adult section at 16 years of age most of them have been racing in adult crews for at least one year and are accomplished rowers.

They are all keen to race in The World Pilot Gig Championships on The Isles of Scilly and continue throughout the Cornish Pilot Gig Association gig rowing season.

This means that the club has reached a point where it needs a sister to Lark and Manacle Belle, to accommodate all the Junior rowers and also enable senior members racing regularly.

To cover the £5,000 shortfall in monies raised so far, a Crowdfunding bid has been launched which expires on Monday at 10pm.

The race is on the secure the final funding for the new gig and the club has been ably assisted by Matt Burtwell of Aerial Cornwall in producing a great video to encourage pledges on the bid.

The video can be viewed at A New Cornish Pilot Gig for Coverack Gig Club and members of the public / business owners who appreciate the work that the Club does for the young (and older !) members of the community are invited to donate to the project. If you would like to contribute to the Crowdfunding, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/a-new-boat-for-coverack-gig-club.

In addition to the Crowdfunding bid, the club is seeking ideas for an appropriate name for the new gig - any suggestions are welcome and can be emailed to coverackgigclub@yahoo.com along with an explanation of why the name is suitable.

The final name will be chosen by a democratic vote of club members in January 2017 and the gig will be launched in March before being shipped to Scilly.