A Brief history.

Gigs can be rowed or sailed, and are unique, originating nearly 200 years ago for the purposes of pilotage, salvage and other more illegal practices. They plied their trade from ports, coves and inlets throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, carrying pilots to the ships entering Southwest waters. Built then, as now, by skilled craftsmen their clean lines, lightweight and shallow draft gives the Pilot Gig exceptional sea-keeping qualities and a spanking turn of speed

A restoration programme was started in the 1950's by the Scilly and Newquay rowing clubs to save the original Scillonian Gigs, including the 167 year old Bonnet. In 1967 Tom Chudleigh of St. Marys built the first Gig this century, the Serica, using moulds taken from the Bonnet. During the seventies 4 more Gigs were completed, but it wasn't until 1985 that Gig building really took off. Now up to 4 Gigs a year are being constructed in the traditional manner of Cornish narrow leaf elm, fastened by copper nails. These Gigs are standardised to the dimensions of the Newquay Gig Treffry, built in 1838, which is 32 feet long, not less than 4 feet 9 inches at the midships and weighing not less than 7 cwt.

Of all the Gigs which the Peters family built, only two were known to them by name; these were the Newquay, known to them as the 'very old one', and the Treffry, reckoned to be the best and the longest Gig they ever built. The Newquay was one of three built for export to Bassein. Transport could only be found for two and the remaining one was sold to Messrs W Broad and Son of Falmouth in the first year of their appointment as Lloyds Agents: they were appointed on November 13th 1811. Later this Gig was sold to Newquay. 1812 is accepted as the building date and William Peters as her builder. The Newquay is still in good condition, 30' long and 4' 10" in the beam. A slight but probably significant difference in the building of the Newquay was discovered when her keel was renewed in 1955; she had a keel of oak, not American elm, and her first planks were 3/8" thick instead of the usual ¼"

The Newquay is still used at Newquay Rowing Club, often being raced against the newer Gigs of the Club. During the rowing season, however, there are several prestigious Cup Races in which the three 'old' Gigs (Newquay, Dove and Treffry) are used. The most notable of these being "The Silver Gig", which incidentally, the Newquay won in 1993.