St. Ives' Pilot Gig Club visit to Brest 2000

On the 11th of July 19 members of St.Ives Pilot Gig Club set off with their gig 'Porthminster' to partake in the Maritime Festival 'Brest 2000'. Last year an offer had been made by the organization to subsidies 3 Cornish Gigs to attend the festival. This was taken up by St. Wives, Truro and Pendeen Pilot Gig Club. The gig didn't get any further than Lelant GardenCentere before it was stopped and the mini bus was stopped before Truro roundabout, where G.P. learnt the vital lesson that if there is a police car with a blue flashing light behind you, pull over and don't try to out run it. The bit to Plymouth was quite quiet and the ferry crossing very enjoyable. There were no problems until just outside the festival area where the Truro trailer had a flat tyre and caused a huge traffic jam in Brest. That is were all the participants were separated, some stuck behind the gig and some in front. We all managed to meet up again to travel up to our accommodation which took us 1.5 hours to find. This distance got shorter and shorter as the week progressed, on the last few days it only took us 10 min and walking about ½ hour. We all miss these Mystery Tours through Brestspeciallyorganizeded by Gerry. We have seen sides of Brest that nobody else has seen. The accommodation was very nice, a college, the bedrooms were clean, the washrooms were enormous and one toilet. What? One toilet? Yea, one toilet for 20 people, but then they have 'urinals', but they are for the men. But all was forgiven, because the showers were fantastic. Breakfast was included and every morning between 9 and 10 a.m. It was typical French. Rolls and cereal bowls for coffee and hot chocolate etc. We loved it (in the beginning)

For the first two days 'Porthminster' was displayed in the marque where the Cornish contingency were displaying their wares. Her sails were up and she was admired by professionals and visitors alike. The paddles caused quite a stir in the rowing circuit. Many times during those days Hugh Shoulders had to explain how they were constructed and their lightness. The backdrop to the gig were the colourful display panels made by Steve Martin. Large photos showed the multifaceted sites of St. Ives. Brochures were handed out and questions answered by the members. On the third day, 'Porthminster' was exchanged with the Truro gig.
This resulted in an adventurous time where the gig was shot at by one of their canons and ram raided by their big 10 oared gigs. It took us a while to convince them it was now the year 2000 and in theory we lived in peace. We also found very unfair that we were invited and then treated in such a way by the host. The gig spent most of the time being rowed around the harbour looking at all the different ships and boats at anchor or mowing about the harbour. Greetings were exchanged with the 'Children's Friend' , 'Nellie' and 'Sapphire' from Newlyn. And the 'Petifox' from the Isles of Scilly. The gig was dwarfed by the big Russian sailing ships and was dwarfing some of the boats that were being sailed or rowed. 2.500 boats were expected and only 2/3 made it, because of the bad weather the days leading up to the event. An unbelievable sight of sleek, elegant racing yachts beside ancient boats like the Irish Curagh. Boats from such different places as Yemen and Switzerland.

Some of the smaller boats on Display

Some of the larger boats on display

The Porthminster' partook in their rowing event fighting against their 10 oared gigs. Where the crew learnt a few new French words and the French were taught a few new juicy English expressions. And their tactic to squeeze us between 2 boats was totally lost on us, because this was like the old days at Cornish gig rowing events. We were just more experienced than them. The first race was a plain rowing event and the gig finished many length ahead of their nearest rival. The second day saw the same boats being sailed around the course. The faces of the other crews showed us how welcome we were. 'Oh, not them again.' The crew had not enough sailing experience and asked the race organizers if they could still race, but row the course again. There was no objection to this, but because of the serious clashes that had happened the day before the cox was told to delay the start until given the all clear. Even with this handicap the 'Porthminster' was again in the thick of it at the second mark. Nobody ever realized how dangerous this race was. At a buoy a French gig tried to ramrod the Cornish into oblivion it approached with tremendous speed shouting to give way. With the buoy on one side and another French gig on the other side there was nowhere for the Cornish to go, so cunningly they just hid behind the buoy which the Frenchman promptly hit. Luckily nobody was hurt and the French gig sailed past. The cox waited for the other crew to go by and then set of again, by now the last in the race, but not wanting to endanger gig or crew and wary of the French, the crew rowed at a steady pace just behind them. But as soon as the harbour wall was reached for the last leg, where the sailing gigs had to bring in their sails and row, the crew set a cracking racing speed overtaking most of them and came second. The winning French gig cheered and congratulated the 'Porthminster'. The Cornish Crew was quite disappointed that their victories were never acknowledged by the French. It didn't dampen their spirits so and they just partied they nights away.
The French cox of the damaged gig was waiting when the Porthminster returned to her berth. He demanded compensation in cash. Threatening with the gendarmes, but demanding friendly payment. It didn't make sense to the crew. We told him that the insurance would take care of it, but this didn't go down well at all. With the help of Pete Burgin (Paula's dad), quite an expert on maritime law and a French gendarme, the matter was sorted out. He left feeling quite sheepish and with his tail between his legs. Don't try to railroad the Cornish into parting with money, just because they don't speak the lingo. He was quite categorically told that he himself was to blame for the damage to his gig. He should have taken evasive action much sooner and not harass another crew to give way. He was lucky that the Cornish Crew didn't press charges for harassment. But we just beaten them again, that was enough. When MM.. was in need of the medical help, because she fell down some steps and managed to break one of her front teeth off, her companion at the time R.A. Sprung into action. A French couple was asked to call an ambulance and helped look for the tooth. (at midnight when it was dark?) Roz could only marvel at the fact that the French ambulances were red and contained 4 paramedics. She felt so sorry for Michelle who could not appreciate the four strapping men. Michelle was just not in the mood for it, with blood flowing everywhere and a very sore mouth.

Michelle at the site of her accident
Roz looking for Michelles tooth

Most evenings could see groups of rowers dispersing into different direction to have a meal. On one of those occasions Lucy S. Managed to make mothers nightmare come true. She sneezed into the chocolate mousse the waitress had just put down in front of her. Everything was covered in chocolate mouse for a 2' radius. After we convinced the French any war between England and France had finished a long time ago, we got on quite well. 'Breton Dance' did a lot to bring the two nationalities closer. .
On the last day a French coach inquired if it was possible for the crew of the 'Porthminster' to give the French rowers some instruction in the technique the Cornish rowers were using. This cumulated in two hours of rowing, instruction given in 'classic' French by Gerry Pardoe and Roz Atherton's being called an erotic or was it an erratic rower? After the coaching the French rowers showed their appreciation by inviting the Cornish for a drink.

Serge and three other crew from a French Gig join Roz , Anna and Gerry for a row in the Porthminster

In the evening the teams met at the gig and watched a firework display, mixing with crews of other boats and nationalities. National anthems were sung, but nobody could remember the words for 'Trelawny' (Shame). Monday morning the gigs were put on the trailers and everything packed up to go home. The boats were leaving from 9 o'clock onwards sailing across the bay to another maritime festival. The sun was shining and it was a spectacular sight. The St.Ives' gig club members set off for Roscoff were they spent the day. Everybody met up again at the ferry port for the ferry back to Plymouth and the 3 gigs did a lap of honor around the car park (or was it because they couldn't find the entrance to the terminal.)