6th July 2011

LYME REGIS: Third gig to be named Tempest

The new wooden Cornish Pilot Gig to be built in Lyme Regis - with work commencing this October for an anticipated launch date in July 2012 - is to be named “Tempest”.

Over 30 names were submitted by Gig Club members and the public.

The name has links to Lyme Regis as researchers have suggested that Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest” was influenced by eye witness reports of the exploits of Admiral Sir George Somers whose ship Sea Venture was wrecked on the island of Bermuda in 1609.

Lyme Regis Gig Club was founded in 2007 and since then has commissioned two wooden gigs “Rebel” and “Black Ven”, The club’s membership goes from strength to strength with crews competing regularly through the summer with training and recreational rowing from the Cobb and now establishing a youth section.

Club founder and chairman Marcus Dixon said:”It’s clear that another wooden Cornish Pilot Gig is needed and Lyme Regis Gig Club is launching an appeal and hoping to raise just over £7,000 toward the cost of building “Tempest”. The club is inviting people to invest in a piece of maritime history that can trace its roots back to the 18th century.

“All the Lyme Regis wooden gigs have been built by award winning local boat builder Gail McGarva on Monmouth Beach and “Tempest” will be no exception.

“For this appeal, each part of the new wooden gig has been identified costed so there are some parts that everyone will be able to contribute to, from the keel at £500 to the rivets at four for a £1.

Lyme Regis Gig Club is inviting everyone who would like to help commission the building of “Tempest”by investing in the new build and being part of re-establishing a seafaring tradition that gives people a great way of having fun, learning through challenge, competing both now and long into the future.”

The “Tempest Appeal” will be launched at The Cobb Centre (the first story offices on the building on The Cobb at 7.30pm on Friday. Anyone who would like to be part of building “Tempest” are invited.

For further inform-ation,contact Marcus Dixon at [email protected] or www.lymeregisgigclub.com or on 01297 445021.

PICTURE: UNDER CONSTRUCTION - Boatbuilder Gail McGarva sitting inside "Tempest"