The Sidmouth Gig was in action at the Exmouth Rowing Club Regatta.

There were crews from across the south West and the Channel Islands with boats from Jersey, Plymouth Mayflower, Teign Scullers, Torquay, Totnes, and Devil’s Elbow, all on parade.

Two boats from the recently-established Sidmouth Gig Rowing Club were in action together with trans-Atlantic rower Justin Adkin who pitched his self-designed single scull Sea Saver against ten other crews in the Men’s event. The sight of the two Sidmouth gigs on the beach won admiring glances from spectators gathered to watch the racing!

It was the women’s race that launched the day’s proceedings.

In near-perfect conditions and bright autumnal sunshine, nine crews headed out towards the Fairway buoy under the careful supervision of three safety boats and Plymouth Mayflower led the race from start to finish with hosts Exmouth taking second.

The men’s event developed into a lung-busting duel between Exmouth and the top Jersey crew, with the home crew snatching line honours barely metres ahead of the Channel Islanders.

The last race of the day was for mixed crews over a shorter 4K course. Teign Scullers medalled in first place, with Exmouth second and Plymouth Mayflower third.

No less than seven other crews competed, including the Sidmouth gigs.

The big wooden boats, Alma and Keith Harris, were far too heavy to compete on level terms with the sleeker racing quads, but the outing brought Sidmouth valuable experience.

Said Sidmouth’s Kerry Gibbons: “This was a bit of a first for us and we loved every minute of it. Will we be back again? Of course we will!”