ROWERS from across the globe will once again travel to the Isles of Scilly as the Gig World Championships return.

This year’s field features 151 boats who will take to the water between Friday and Sunday with thousands coming to St Mary’s which as per usual will act as the centre of all the action.

Falmouth will be looking to defend both their men’s and women’s world titles which they claimed onboard Black Rock in 2014.

Along with the teams from around Cornwall and the rest of Britain, international representation will be coming from US-based Gloucester Massachusetts, Ireland’s Arklow Rowing Club and four Dutch crews, who will have two new gigs blessed on the first day of competition.

A boat from military charity Help For Heroes featuring ex-servicemen will also be taking part.

In the men’s race, 141 crews will be taking part in the three rows each starting on Saturday afternoon and finishing with the grand final set to begin at 3.30pm on Sunday.

There have been 140 entries made for the women’s section while proceedings will kick off on Friday with the veterans’ races with 70 male crews and 69 females.

The supervets will also be making a return in 2015 with 20 entries for the men and 22 in the ladies.

Rick Persich, chairman of the championship’s organising committee, said there are a couple of differences to the course this year, but said the main aim of the weekend is still the same.

Persich said: “The format for the races remains substantially as last year with the exception of the finishing line, which owing to extensive works on St Mary’s Quay, has had to be narrowed a little. All necessary details will be given to the coxes at their meeting at the Methodist Chapel on Friday.

“On behalf of the organising committee, all we wish for is all competitors and their supporters to enjoy themselves, be very competitive on the sea but exude normal camaraderie when back on dry land.”