We are a Plymouth-based new and developing Pilot Gig Rowing Club and a standalone specialist branch of the Royal Marines Association (RMA), the Royal Marines Charity.

Our club was formed in 2019 with the aim of actively encouraging our military veterans, serving military, their family and supporters to participate in a sporting activity while forging strong bonds of friendship and camaraderie.

We are always looking for new members to join our friendly club and as well as providing an opportunity for members to stay connected and keep fit, we want to do all we can to raise awareness of the vital work the Royal Marines Charity does to support our armed forces family across a wide range of initiatives. 

Our club was originally founded entirely from self-funding and all our current equipment, including our plastic boat, the oars and trailer is on loan due to the generosity of other established gig clubs who remember what its like to be a newly-formed club with plenty of determination but little money!

Our branch funds come from members' donations instead of membership fees (so the Gift Aid element goes directly to the RMA) and members' own fundraising efforts.

We now have a dedicated core group of around twenty members, whose ages range from mid-20s to early-70s who are all now completely addicted to this exhilarating sport! Our aim is to increase our membership to enable us to compete in regattas throughout the South West of England, with our ultimate goal of participating in the World Championships held annually in the Isles of Scilly.

In order to compete at these events, the club needs to have its own wooden boat. This is a stipulation of the Cornish Pilot Gig Rowing Association - our governing body.

As luck would have it we have found such a boat!

She is being sold at a very fair price, which includes oars, a trailer, seat cushions and boat cover. We have also been given the opportunity to raise the necessary funds over a generous period of time by the club selling her.

Our members have come together as one and are busy raising awareness among family, friends and colleagues, making items to sell and making generous personal donations. We are also looking at grants, loans and other sources of funding. Which is why we are here!

Any donation you can make to our branch funds would take us a step closer to achieving our aim and greatly help us in becoming a successful and long-lasting club. Furthermore, because the gig will be an asset of the Charity, donations from UK taxpayers will qualify for Gift Aid, which will go directly to the Charity.

Thank you for your generosity and for reading our story.