Coverack Gig Club restore their pilot gig The Lark with a grant from The Goonhilly Wind Farm Community Fund

For the last 25 years Coverack Gig Club has provided affordable, friendly , competitive , inclusive welcoming and sustainable rowing and social activities. The club aims to promote the competitive sport of Cornish Pilot Gig Rowing for adults & young people from Coverack, St. Keverne & surrounding areas.

With a £5,000 grant from the Goonhilly Wind Farm Community FundA sum of money made available for grant making, often with specific criteria/conditions. the club were able to restore Cornish Pilot Gig Lark. The refurbishment aimed to preserve the gig’s exceptional condition and ensure its usability for decades. Key activities included tightening rivets, replacing keel bands and thole pins, reshaping bilge keels, and completing a professional repaint. The process involved 312 hours of volunteer labour, primarily for paint stripping, followed by specialised boatbuilder work, which ultimately required less refurbishment than initially anticipated.

Eighteen volunteers participated in the projectA piece of work that delivers an output., contributing significant time and effort. The club members expressed enthusiasm and camaraderie during the preparation, fostering community spirit. One participant shared that the process brought “a huge sense of pride and achievement in maintaining traditional craftsmanship,” reflecting the hands-on nature of the project.

The refurbishment directly benefited over 100 people, including rowers aged 11 and up, spanning novices to experienced participants. With the gig restored to near-new condition, it will continue to serve as a vital resource for local rowing, offering opportunities to race a top-tier gig. A local rower described the restoration as “inspirational,” highlighting the renewed interest in gig rowing and the pride in the boat among the community.

The project’s impact extended beyond the boat’s restoration. It strengthened community resilience, provided practical skills, and improved social networks. Original club members returned to the sport, spurred by renewed pride in Lark. One notable story featured a local man in his 50s, recovering from severe health issues, who contributed over 30 hours to the refurbishment. His involvement not only aided his recovery but also rekindled his passion for rowing. He expressed eagerness to oversee Lark’s journey from the boatbuilder, symbolising the personal and communal importance of the gig.

About the Fund

Wind turbines have been generating renewable electricity at Goonhilly Downs on the Lizard since 1993 and in 2010 the 14 original machines were replaced with six modern turbines, more than trebling the clean energy outputAn output is a measurable change. It can relate to the level or quality of a service.. All involved with Goonhilly Wind Farm strongly believe that local communities should benefit from hosting a wind farm and the Goonhilly Wind Farm Community Fund has been made available to support good causes local to the site, for every year of the wind farm’s working life. For more information about RES, who assetAn item of monetary value that an organisation owns. manage the wind farm, click here 

This is one of more than 12 Community Benefit Funds managed by Cornwall Community Foundation.

For more information about Coverack Gig Club visit coverackgigclub.com

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