BRIDPORT Gig Rowing Club’s new gig Bucky Doo went on public display for the first time this morning in Bridport’s Bucky Doo Square.

It’s a good thing there wasn’t a band playing, as there so often is in Bucky Doo Square, because the town wouldn’t have been big enough for both of them.

It’s one thing to know that a gig is 32 feet long, another actually to see what a long aqua-dynamic sliver it is, how built for power and speed.

Gigs historically were made to whizz pilots out to ships coming into harbour. First pilot out there, got the job of guiding vessels in.

The aim of today’s event was to show off Bucky Doo and let people know she’ll be officially launched from the slipway at West Bay, at noon on Sunday May 16.

Club officials also hoped to attract more members.

So, membership secretary Jim Binning was in winningly lyrical mood. He went out for the first time in a gig three weeks ago, and he said: “The feeling is just fantastic, I had no expectation it was going to be that good.”

Mr Binning went out from West Bay in a gig brought down to Dorset by Bristol’s gig club.

He said: “It’s just so peaceful out there, you concentrate on what you’re doing, and you forget about everything else, and when you when you come back in, you want to go straight back out again.”

Gig racing as a sport has increased massively in popularity in recent years, spreading up from the Isles of Scilly to Swanage, and to Bristol, and generating great camaraderie wherever it goes. Mr Binning commented on how “incredibly generous” it was of Bristol to give up their time, and loan their gig, to a new club like Bridport.

He’ll also pointed out there’s a £15 discount on offer to new members before May 16.

I did tell you the club wanted to increase its membership! There’s about 40 people involved at the moment, of all ages and abilities.

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