The much loved Old Harry gig, the first to belong to Swanage Sea Rowing Club, has been given a new home on the Isle of Wight after spending three years unused in a barn.
The Old Harry was built in 2001 and officially named in 2002 in a ceremony conducted by local legend and journalist George Willey, but it has now been superseded by newer boats.
The Old Harry gig all cleaned up and ready to be towed to the Isle of Wight
Festive gesture
Rather than continuing to keep Old Harry in storage, the Swanage Sea Rowing Club trustees choose to make a festive gesture and give her to a new club that could make good use of her.
The lucky recipient is Brading Haven Gig Rowers which is part of Brading Haven Sailing Club based on the north east of the Isle of Wight in Hampshire.
The club was only formed one and a half years ago, and has been using a plastic gig on loan from the governing body for the sport, the Cornish Pilot Gig Association.
Four clubs were considered but the Brading Haven Gig Rowers was successful after presenting a well written case for receiving the donation.
Smashing time! The official naming ceremony of Old Harry by journalist George Willey, looked on by one of Swanage Sea Rowing Club’s founder members Malcolm Turnbull in 2002
One final photo of Old Harry before she left Swanage
Great memories
Old Harry was built by Alan Hangar in his workshop on Weymouth Quay in 2001 and cost the Swanage Sea Rowing Club around £10,000.
A highlight of the gig’s career was when the Swanage’s womens crew finished 14th at the Isles of Scilly World Championships back in 2006.
As the first gig built for the Swanage Sea Rowing Club, it was a sad moment for lots of the members to see her go, although many had great memories of taking her down to Devon and Cornwall.
However the success and growth of the club over the years has meant that newer gigs have been purchased and Old Harry wasn’t being used.
Brading Haven Gig Rowers on the Isle of Wight take delivery of their Christmas gift
Chair of Swanage Sea Rowing Club Adrian Charters (centre) took Old Harry out for a spin for one final time
“Expressed their gratitude”
Chair of Swanage Sea Rowing Club (SSRC) Adrian Charters, along with another club member, delivered the early Christmas present on Monday 16th December 2024, taking Old Harry or OH as she is often referred to, from Swanage to the Isle of Wight on a trailer. Adrian said:
“After only a clean up on Saturday afternoon which mainly involved removing lots of bird poo, and despite having sat in a barn for three years, she only took on a little water when launched at the Isle of Wight club. To see Old Harry on the water again was fantastic!
“To say the club and our hosts Sara and Polly were excited was an understatement! We put OH in at high water and then I stroked a 6 km row out of the harbour, round one of the Napoleonic sea forts and back to a nice welcome in their lovely members club for mince pies and drinks.
“She will be used probably daily by the 50 members of the club and they all expressed their gratitude to SSRC for the donation. As they are a sailing club they are thrilled to have the sails, masts and rigging which they are buying.
“The sailing club commodore is eager to try and sail her and apparently Yarmouth Gig Club on the island also have a gig with sails, so they have a racing partner. There was even talk of entering some speciality races during Cowes Week!”
Old Harry settling into her new home at Brading Haven Sailing Club
The return of Old Harry!
However, some may spot Old Harry in Swanage Bay once again as the Brading Haven Gig Rowers club is hoping to visit in spring to practise, before Swanage’s summer regatta on Sunday 8th June 2025.
The club may even enter the Super Vets Championships on the day before, so we’ve probably not seen the last of Old Harry in Swanage!
Further information
- More about Swanage Sea Rowing Club
