Scores of rowers took part this weekend in the World Pilot Gig Championships, which take place every year on the Isles of Scilly, just off the coast of Cornwall in the UK.

Now in its 29th year, the 32ft long wooden craft, with six crew and a coxswain were originally used to ferry pilots out to guide tall ships into safe harbour through the treacherous outer rocks, and often used as lifeboats.

A three-kilometre race between St Agnes and St Mary’s, two of the five islands, decides the heat order for the three days Championship racing.

Over 150 gigs take part, with male and female crews from around Cornwall, Devon and Wales, with entrants from Holland, Bermuda and the United States of America as well.