Gigrowers:

Please forward any writen descriptions or pictures of recent events to Info@gloucestergigrowers.com.  The site moderator will display your reports below. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Belfast Race Day, Belfast Maine, Saturday August 20

GMHC Sponsored Race Day, September 10, Start, Finish, and Spectator Viewing at Niles Beach Gloucester  

RELATIVELY RECENT EVENTS

Gloucester Gigrowers Race Report, Lake Champlain Race 2011

The 2011 Lake Champlain Race, Reported On By the team Cox 

Gloucester Gigrowers Race Report, Essex River Race 2011

The 2011 Essex River Race, Reported On By Cox for the Gannet

This race begins near Tom Shea’s restaurant in Essex, circles the big island off of Conomo point, & returns to the start line.   The first 1.5 miles of this 5.5 mile race are in the relatively narrow Essex River, after which he water broadens to the approach to the island.  The conditions were flat water, no wind, and race start just after high tide. GMHC had both the Siren Song and the Gannet participating in this race.

Gannet Race Strategy: At 1.25 miles from start, there is an orange pipe embedded in a mud bank on our starboard side.  From that location, one can take a straight shot to the island, over mud flats and sea grass, or take the wider more northern loop to the island through deeper water.  From previous practices, I had decided if one foot or less of that pipe was revealed we were going for the shorter route.  Otherwise, we would stay in the longer but deeper channel.  In fact I shared this strategy with the New Bedford before the race (Humm- did I say 12 inches revealed or 18 inches: Can’t remember)

For this report, the four gigs involved were the Siren Song (SS), the Gale Force-New Bedford (GF), the Gannet (G), & the interceptor-Plymouth (I).

The start was staggered, first SS, then GF, then G, and later I.

For the first 1.2 miles, SS, GF, & G all held starting positions.  Both GF & SS were about 400’ ahead of G.  At the 1.25 mile marker, GF committed themselves for the straight run to the island, and SS took a slightly more conservative northerly loop.  G followed the GF.  Revealed pipe was just 12 inches: right on the edge of enough water for the short cut.  With GF about 300’ ahead, it was easy to see how well they were blazing the trail.  2/3rds of the way thru the cut, I saw them significantly slow down, with grass around them & mud coming off the oars.  G took a gentle turn more North to avoid that trap.  I thought briefly that the GF was cooked for the race, but I must hand it to them as there alternatives were to either back away or keep going forward, they chose the latter and powered through it.  That was a gutsy call on their part.

When we all broke into deeper water at 1.75 miles, G & SS were about even & GF remained 300’ ahead.  We held these positions to the turn north after the island where the G pulled ahead of the SS.  On the east & north sides of the island the G & GF held relative positions, sometimes G getting as close as 200’ to GF.

Clearing the island & making the run to the finish, the G intended a more conservative loop to the west, but the GF again took a straight shot to the outgoing 1.25 mile marker.  The G was also becoming aware of the I behind us at this point.  The I also committed to the straight shot path taken by the GF.  Seeing that, I was forced onto that shorter but riskier route also.

GF remained 400’ ahead, & we worked hard to keep the I 100’ behind.  At the outgoing 1.25 mile marker, these positions held.  From there on to end, our focus was the I breathing down our stern.  Through the many turns of the river they attempted to pass, but we held them off every time, powering through the turns, & I am sure frustrating the H out of them.  Both the G & the I were powering through to the finish, with the G position no more that 20’ ahead of I. 

Finish times had the Interceptor winning, followed by the Gale-Force, then our entry the gannet

A very exciting race.      

Gloucester GigRowers Race Report: Snow Row 2011

Rowers, here is an initial report with some background for the information of all:

Our team, seat 1 through Cox, was Amy, Margaret, Carol B, Bonnie, Bart, Clem, & Ann B.  We were the third phase to the start: Phase 1 smallest row boats, Phase 2 Cox with 4 rowers, phase 3 gigs with six rowers.  Prior to our start Ann was in position in Cox seat, Amy held the bow just into the water, & team was on beach.  At the start we (& everyone else) ran for our boat (SS) & slipped our way to assigned seat.

Our rowers for seats 1/2/3/4/5 briefly sat up one seat so they were facing the bow at the start: This gave us much better strength rowing reverse as required to get us off the beach.

Very unfortunate, our beach position coupled with the wind direction put us in a very congested start position; The Grace from the Vineyard was adjacent to us & just upwind.  As soon as we started paddling out, we couldn’t get away from her.  As her bow finally passed our stern, it conveniently (for her) picked our rudder off of the SS transom & put it into the water; Our rower in seat six was probably the only one that saw this as he was the only rower facing the stern.  By the time we got the rudder re-attached, we were in the coveted position that we could only improve our position among the other gigs as the race progressed. 

The race course was triangular: Leg 1 roughly south, gentle turn to stbd at an island to a west course, then a sharper turn (again starboard) around a channel market for the third leg, North-east.  I would say the wind was brisk & from the SSW.  Therefore Leg 1 was largely into the wind, & leg 2 was even more so.  The home run leg 3 had the wind behind us.

On Leg 1 we probably overtook 3 to 5 boats.  Leg 2 on the back side of the island was quite congested, however we overtook 1 or 2 gigs there, one very rewarding overtake including a crew of a noticeably younger average age than our boat.  We were not able to overtake any gigs on leg 3, but there was quite a press from two gigs behind us as we approached the finish, but we held them off.

A “coxed 4″ flipped over on leg 3, putting 5 persons in the water.  A couple of gigs went over to assist, as well as one safety boat.  It was puzzling to us why they flipped, as leg 3 has the calmest water for rowing.

With all of the congestion, not only at race start but all the way through, rowing shells overtaking us, us passing many smaller vessels, this was definitely a race that benefited from a COX that kept her cool in tight spots, and was very willing to require an additional 20 powers at regular frequency. 

This was a 3.5 mile race, great fun, & recommended to any member acquainted with conditioning rows or other race practices.

PAST EVENTS AND RELATED LINKS

Gloucester GigRowers Race Report: Scrimmage with the Schooner Lannon, 2010

First & foremost, a big thanks to Tom Ellis from the GMHC GigRowers for allowing your schooner Lannon to participate in our scrimmage. Your participation provided a novel element and interest to this outing.    The origin of our Pilot gigs, and thus our race program, was to race toward incoming ships and be the first to land a pilot onto that vessel.  For this event, your Lannon represented that incoming ship, and our gigs complete with ceremonial Pilots made the race to your bow.  

 Your coordination for starting the race was right-on, and everything went just as planned (except the Siren Song reached you before us in the Gannet).  Nevertheless, well done & many thanks.  I hope your passengers were entertained, as were our spectators.

 In addition, thanks to all gig rowers who were able to come, able to help, able to row, wanted to come but had schedule conflicts, wanted to row but became unavailable, etc.  Special thanks to Lysa Leland and others for documenting the race on video and on pictures: Thank you all 

 To all GigRowers, here is the summary of our race:

 Objective:  Be the first Pilot-Gig to reach the Lannon, & win the task of piloting her safely into the harbor.

 Participants:  Siren Song, Captained and Coxed by Bart, & Gannet, Coxed by Penny, captained by Clem.

Race start point:  Gloucester South Channel Marker 2S: Race end point: Bow of the Thomas E Lannon, at Half moon beach, Stage Fort Park.

Race Course length: Aprox 1 mile: Race start signal from a Cannon shot from the Lannon, as she passed 10 Pound Island, headed for our rendezvous point at Half Moon beach. 

Siren Song and Gannet were even for several hundred yards, then Siren song gained a strategic edge at one channel marker, leaving her with a the lead that  the Gannet could not overcome.  That lead grew as the race progressed.

 The Lannon sounded her horn for the win as the Siren song crossed her stern, and about 30 seconds later sounded the horn a second time for the Gannet.

 The Lannon, tacking into a strong head-wind, followed the Gannet & Siren Song back into the harbor, past ten pound island, then the paint factory, and last to her berth at Harbor cove.

 The race was followed by good food, spirits, and storytelling back at the GMHC.  A good time was had by all.

Second Annual—Gloucester Maritime Heritage Race 2010
Gigs, Whale Boats, and Traditional Banks Dories
Results: 2010 Race >>
When: August 7, 2010
Where: Niles Beach, Gloucester, MA (Southeast Harbor)
Course: Ellipsis, twice around, 5.5 miles
Launch Boats: Immediately after registration, at Niles Beach
Registration: 10 a.m. at Niles Beach
Registration Fee: $100/boat
Food and Festivities: Immediately following conclusion of the race at the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center, Harbor Loop, Gloucester
Hosted by: Gloucester Gig Rowers
Sponsored by: Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center
For more information, send email to info@gloucestergigrowers.com

First Annual—Gloucester Maritime Heritage Race 2009
Gigs, Whale Boats, and Traditional Banks Dories
Results: 2009 Race >>
When: August 8, 2009
Where: Niles Beach — Gloucester, MA
Course: Triangular 5+ Mile
Launch Boats: 8 -10:00 a.m. at Niles Beach (Southeast Harbor)
Registration: 11 a.m. at Niles Beach (Southeast Harbor)
Race Start: 12 p.m. at Niles Beach<
Registration Fee: $20/person or $100/boat
Food and Festivities: 2:30pm at Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center
Hosted by: Gloucester Gig Rowers
Sponsored by: Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center
For More Information: contact Chip at info@gloucestergigrowers.com
Detailed FAQ Sheet for Rowers: (pdf 55K)