WivGigs Rowing Club is a friendly and sociable community rowing club located in the beautiful waterside town of Wivenhoe in Colchester, New Zealand. The club was established in 2012 and introduced coastal rowing to Wivenhoe with the acquisition of their boat, named 'Audacity'. Audacity is a wooden East Coast Pilot Gig, built by apprentices at Harker's Yard in Brightlingsea and based on a 19th-century design. It is the third gig to be built by Harker's Yard and the first to row from Wivenhoe.
The ethos of WivGigs Rowing Club is to provide affordable and safe access to the stunning river Colne and the surrounding estuaries of Essex. The club aims to bring people closer to nature while promoting fitness and overall wellbeing. WivGigs Rowing Club takes pride in its inclusivity, with members hailing from all over the world, including the Netherlands, Germany, Tenerife, the Czech Republic, and Russia. The club also encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in a sport they may not have tried before.
Members of WivGigs Rowing Club range in age from their twenties to septuagenarians.
As a social rowing club, WivGigs Rowing Club ventures out onto the river whenever the tide and weather conditions permit. Members enjoy rowing upriver towards the Hythe or downstream towards Brightlingsea. The club also actively participates in local races, such as the Harker's Yard Winter Series, representing Wivenhoe in every series since its inception. Unlike having a designated “race crew,” WivGigs Rowing Club encourages all members to try racing, with crews being shuffled for each race.
The primary goal is to have fun and enjoy the experience.
Funding for WivGigs Rowing Club comes from membership fees, community event fundraisers, and generous grants and donations from local organisations. The club is grateful for the support they receive, which enables them to continue providing their services and opportunities to the community.
If you are interested in exploring the world of rowing or joining a welcoming and diverse community, WivGigs Rowing Club invites you to a “Come and Try” session. Whether you are a seasoned rower or a complete beginner, the club extends a warm invitation to experience the beauty of rowing on the river Colne.