A ONCE in a lifetime chance to be part of the sporting and social heritage of the Tamar Valley is on offer as pilot gig club Tamar and Tavy puts out a call for shareholders in a new boat. The Weir Quay-based club is keen to throw open its plan for a boat-owning syndicate to the local community. The club urgently needs a second boat as it looks to the future. Embarking on its third racing season, the gig club has more than 100 active members ageing from 10 to more than 80, and a healthy social membership. John Pearce, organiser of the Tamar Pilot Gig Syndicate, said: ?It is a tremendous and one-off opportunity to be part of our heritage and at the same time be part of a thriving community project. ?We have bidders for 40 of the 64 shares and urgently need to find the final 24 to help the club build on its success, meet the demand for gig rowing in the area, and ease the pressure on the club?s boat Ginette.? The syndicate has until the end of the month to come up with all 64 shares. The builder of the club?s hardworking sole gig Ginette has a boat in waiting. Shipwright and Launceston-based craftsman Brian Nobbs, of Cross Green Woodworks, is offering the club first refusal on his latest pilot gig, Iron Maid. Boats have traditionally been sold in 64 shares, and the gig shares are on offer for £350 each. Kitted out with oars and trailer a new hand-built gig boat costs in the region of £22,000, but they are built to last ? there are boats still racing that were built more than 150 years ago. Tamar and Tavy club rowers range from the fiercely competitive to the purely recreational and include people from all walks of life: IT managers, bus drivers, social workers, farmers, teachers and busy mothers. Rowers come from as far afield as Liskeard, Launceston and, even, eschewing three alternative gig clubs on their doorstep, from Plymouth. But the vast majority come from the Tavistock area. Billed as the fastest growing sport in the South West, gig rowing has a proud racing tradition, boats battling through almost any kind of seas. Crews of men, women, mixed, juniors, veterans and even super veterans compete across the South West every weekend from April until September. Anyone interested in owning a share in the gig should contact John on 01822 849474, or on e mail john.pearce@ weir-quay.com To find out more about the club http://www.tntgc.org.uk">www.tntgc.org.uk