PORTLAND Gig Rowing club are celebrating their successes in the World Pilot Gig Championships, held on the Isles of Scilly.

There were a record number of 145 gigs boats taking part, and in near perfect weather conditions, there were battles of strength, skill and endurance shown on the water.

The islanders were represented by men’s A and B, ladies’ A and B, men’s veterans, ladies’ veterans, (40-50), men’s super-veterans and ladies’ super-veterans (50+) crews.

There were five gruelling races for each men and ladies’ crew during the course of the weekend.

Saturday morning saw the spectacle of around 145 gig boats on the gentle roll of the Atlantic.

Both the ladies’ A and B teams rowing Pulpit Rock and Chesil achieved their highest ranking for a heat placing in the club’s history.

The men’s A and B teams fought hard to maintain res-pectable heat positions.

In the Sunday afternoon World Championship final, the Port-land ladies A crew secured their best placing in ‘Pulpit Rock’, finishing 10th in group D, which placed them 46th in the overall championships.

The ladies’ B crew took fifth in group I, the men’s A crew claim-ed seventh in group I and the men’s B crew finished fourth in group K.

Finishing in style, the Portlanders, dressed in Hawaiian attire, carried their 32ft long gig boat through the streets of St Mary’s to the tune of Hawaii Five-O, much to the delight and cheers from the other gig rowing clubs.

Afterwards celebrations continued with a club dinner and then on to the local pubs for singing Cornish sea shanties.

If you are interested in being a part of this friendly and exciting rowing club, go to portlandgig rowingclub@yahoo.co.uk