Gig rowing is a sport that involves rowing long, narrow boats called pilot gigs, originally designed to carry pilots out to incoming ships in rough coastal waters. These gigs are typically wooden, six-oared boats, often measuring around 32 feet in length, and are used in both recreational and competitive races. Today, gig rowing is especially popular in coastal regions of the UK, like Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, where teams compete in local and international regattas.
Brixham Gig Rowing Club, Spinlock and Torbay RNLI
In early 2024, Brixham Gig Rowing Club reached out to ask if they could borrow a few ALTO and Deckvest LITE for a capsize exercise they had planned with the Torbay RNLI team. A few of the members had used the ALTO before, for watersports and paddleboarding and thought it would be a good option for Gig Rowers as many don’t wear or carry a PFD (apart from the coxswain). We were happy to provide the products and offered to film the exercise to capture the experience and lessons learned.
For several years, Spinlock has worked with a variety of rowing boats and teams, from single sculls to ocean rowing teams. In 2018, we introduced the Spinlock ALTO Belt Pack, a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) designed specifically for emergency use. The ALTO is a compact, lightweight, and comfortable manual 75N inflatable ring, that fits around the waist, making it ideal for activities like watersports, fishing, inland boating, and, naturally, rowing.
Gig Rowing Capsize Drill
We met with Brixham Gig Club on Thursday 26th September, at 6pm to meet with club members, the Torbay RNLI crew, and attend a formal briefing. We introduced and demonstrated the ALTO to everyone, ensuring everyone knew how to use it, especially since some were unfamiliar with the device. For the first exercise, the gig boat was tied alongside the RNLI pontoon and filled with water using the RNLI pump. This allowed the RNLI to observe the boat’s behaviour as it filled with water and capsized. This also gave the RNLI an idea of the time needed to pump it dry (about five minutes).
With the initial exercise complete, we proceeded with the main capsize drill with the crew onboard, conducted within Brixham marina near the shore. The exercise was successful, providing valuable insights for everyone involved (Brixham Gig Rowing Club, RNLI Torbay, and our team at Spinlock).
Video
Watch the full video of the Gig Rowing Capsize drill here on the Spinlock YouTube channel.
Lessons learnt
It took about 20 minutes from the moment of capsize for everyone to be safely aboard the lifeboat. This timeframe excludes the time needed to raise the alarm, launch the lifeboat, and reach the site.
Although the crew was physically fit and conditions were favourable, some members began to feel cold and struggled to climb the lifeboat’s cargo net.
In winter and spring, the risk would be significantly higher, with crew members more likely to face hypothermia, cold water shock, and the increased danger of secondary drowning in rougher conditions.
Crew members described the ALTO as “compact, lightweight, comfortable, and unobtrusive” and found it simple to deploy in an emergency. The ALTO provided enough buoyancy to reduce fatigue and help conserve energy while awaiting rescue. With buoyancy focused around the waist, crew members were also able to exit the water with ease.
For more information or any questions you can email the Spinlock team at prosupport@spinlock.co.uk.
