DREAMS of returning to a traditional boat-building project have come true for one West Devon man.

Cabinet maker and craftsman Brian Nobbs, who now builds traditional kitchens at his Crossgreen Woodworks near his Lifton home, first worked in the boat building trade as a shipwright in London during the 1960s and has dreamed of returning to the wooden boat-building business ever since.

His first marine project since moving to Lifton 21 years ago, has been to build a traditional Cornish Gig for the newly formed Tavy and Tamar Gig Club.

Brian, who runs a smallholding near Broadwoodwidger, gained an interest in gigs several years ago and always fancied building one.

Brian said: ?When I heard of this new gig club being formed in West Devon, my daughter Ginnette joined and brought some information home.

?The club was raising funds to commission the building of a gig and I just wanted to get involved, so I joined as well and volunteered to help with the building of the traditional boat.?

The £15,000 project started at the end of last summer in a spare workshop at his home. The 32-ft wooden racing gig, built to the original 1838 designs by William Peters of St Mawes, will be crewed by six rowers and a coxswain.

The gig has to be inspected during its construction by the Cornish Pilot Gig Association to ensure its dimensions fit exactly within the racing class rules.

More than 3,000 clenched copper nails have been individually riveted into place to hold all the planking together, and over 770 feet of green elm planking has been tooled down to form the floor of the gig.

More timber has been used for the hardwood keel, oak ribs and stem, and rudder to complete the vessel.

The first ?gigs? were built in the late 18th century and were used to carry pilots out to ships waiting off the Cornish coasts.

The pilot would then navigate the ship through the potentially hazardous rocks into the harbour.

Pilots needed to row out to the ships quickly ? it was a competitive career, as the first man to reach the waiting ship would receive the pilot?s fee.

Gig racing evolved both from this competition and from the testing of newly built gigs against others to measure their performance.

Competitive gig racing was popular in Cornwall during the mid 1800s, but by the end of the century began to decline as the Industrial Revolution gathered speed and engines increasingly replaced sails and oars. Many gigs were subsequently broken up or left to rot.

One of Newquay Gig Club?s boats, ?Treffry?, built in 1838, is still used as the standard measurement for the construction of all new boats.

Brian, who also runs a kitchen and pine shop in Launceston, said: ?If all goes to plan, the gig will be ready to launch in March and then attend the World Championships on the Scillies in May.

?It will be a dream come true to watch my own craft compete against all the others at such a prestigious event.?

The Tavy and Tamar Gig Club has secured grants from West Devon Borough Council and the Lottery?s Awards for All scheme.

But chairman Bob Turner said the club still needed to raise £3,000 to cover the cost of the boat build and to buy equipment in connection with the vessel.

It is hoped the money will be raised through sponsorship, advertising space on the boat trailer and fundraising efforts ? the recent ?virtual row? in Tavistock?s Bedford Square raised approximately £500.

The club holds regular fitness sessions throughout the winter months at Bere Alston Primary School gymnasium.

The sessions start at 7pm on Wednesdays and anyone interested in finding out more can contact Bob on 01822 841464.