A historical boat still in use today, the original purpose of the Cornish pilot gig was as a general work boat, and the craft is used for taking pilots out to incoming vessels off the Atlantic. At the time, the race would be the first gig to get their pilot on board a vessel (often those about to run aground on rocks) got the job, and hence the payment. [cf. Wikipedia] This not very unusual floating device is a six-oared rowing boat, built of Cornish narrow leaf elm, thirty-two feet (9.8 … [Read more...]