CROWDS gathered along the sea wall at the small picturesque village of Borth-y-Gest to watch as Celtic Longboats set off on the hunt for treasure, writes Lynne Gilbertson.

Three boats from Madoc Yacht Club Rowing; Madog, Fleetwing and Ysbryd Eryri were joined by guest boats from Conwy and newly reformed rowing club Mochras.

The race is held annually to celebrate the history of the pilot gigs which the club use to row in both challenge and league races across the country. In the 19th century, Borth-y-Gest was a hub of maritime activity, with the now public car park used as a saw pit for making wooden cargo ships for the slate trade.

Locals would watch from various look out points for incoming vessels struggling against wind and tide. When a ship was spotted it was a race for the gig crews to row out. The first gig to reach the vessel would get their pilot onboard and win the lucrative job of piloting the ship to safe harbour in Porthmadog.

MYC ‘s Pilot Race was held on Sunday, 16 August with rowers in period costumes and the Celtic Longboats dressed with bunting made by Max Jenkins, Trish Dow and Lynne Gilbertson, designed to celebrate the rowing sections 25th anniversary.

As the boats came into the bay the crowds began to cheer. Master of Ceremonies Jeremy Davies, who is fourth generation in Borth-y-Gest and was brought up in one of the village pilot houses, took to his megaphone and rallied the spectators.

With the high tide lapping at the sea wall, the five boats lined up with their coxes out of the boat.

As the starter horn sounded the crews began to row and the coxes jumped into their seats to guide their craft through the moored yachts, tenders and dinghies.

The boat crews settled in to their rhythm only to be confronted by a dinghy sailing regatta tacking across their bows as they made their way towards Portmeirion village.

At Portmeirion, boats raced round an orange marker buoy allowing guests to watch the race unfold.

Following the turn the longest leg of the race headed southwest towards the Powder House beach.

On reaching the beach, pilots came into their own leaping ashore and running up the beach to collect beer casks, kindly supplied by the Purple Moose Brewery.

Returning to their boats, their ‘treasure’ securely stowed, boats set off on the home leg back to Borth-y-Gest.

Cox of Madog, Jerry Gilbertson, describes leading the race into the harbour hearing encouragement from crowds gathered on the look-out point and turning in to the bay and seeing the spectators who were cheering loudly and hearing Jeremy Davies on his megaphone encouraging the pilots to run ashore with their cask of Purple Moose to complete the race.

After all five Celtics came safely home the race finish was celebrated with the ‘traditional’ water fight with crab buckets, water pistols and super soakers drenching the competitors.

Crewing the winning boat Madog was cox Jerry Gilbertson, stroke Abigail Marini, Karl Strawman, Ian Bradshaw (Bradders) Gay Harvey and pilot Allanah Fenwick. The winning crews each received a commemorative mug kindly supplied by the Borth-y-Gest community.

If you are interested in rowing or joining Madoc Yacht Club Rowing please visit our page at madog-rowing.co.uk or [email protected]