ROWERS are pulling closer to their fundraising target for an £8,000 gig.

Portland Rowing Club has received a £1,000 donation from Weymouth and Portland Housing towards its appeal.

The club wants to house the 32ft boat at the Boscowan Centre in Castletown on Portland.

Pilot gig racing is one of the west country’s fastest-growing nautical sports.

Club co-founder Dave Ferris said: “Pilot gigs are a rapidly growing sport.

“Clubs are springing up all over the west country with a new one started recently in Lyme Regis.

“I and a few friends have rowed at Swanage and Lyme Regis and we got chatting and decided it would be good to have a club serving Weymouth and Portland.

“That was back in March and we hope to be up and running with a boat of our own sometime after Christmas.

“We don’t have premises as yet but the Boscowan Centre has kindly offered to house the boat once we’ve bought one.

“A new vessel is in the region of £8,000 and so we have begun a fundraising campaign and we are so grateful to Weymouth and Portland Housing for their fantastic donation, and also Thornlow School who have given us £250.”

He added: “We are doing quizzes and all manner of events and a few of us are even planning to do a sponsored gig trailer-pull from Weymouth to Portland later this month.”

Traditional pilot gigs are wooden but Portland Rowing Club plans to purchase a plastic version which will be used by both experienced rowers and beginners.

Mr Ferris said: “The traditional pilot gigs were used to pilot sailing ships into port.

“They were crafted from wood and the gigs that are used for racing these days have to be built the traditional way.

“Unfortunately, they are very expensive and so we have decided to begin with a plastic boat which we can use for training.

“The idea is to break down the elitism that is connected with the sport. We plan to offer free tuition to youngsters under 18 and also offer a range of activities for people over 60 because many clubs don’t seem to cater for this age group.”

The club’s aim of getting youngsters on the water is underlined by a scheme they plan to launch in connection with Weymouth and Portland Housing.

For more details, or to sponsor the club, contact Dave Ferris on 01305 782904 or 07854 953606 or email davejferris@hotmail.com