Devoran boat builder who revived Cornish gig racing honoured with blue plaque
Ralph Bird built 29 pilot gigs in his workshop on the banks of the Carnon river
Last updated 14th Sep 2026
A boat builder credited with reviving the sport of Cornish pilot gig racing is being honoured with a blue plaque at his former workshop in Devoran today.
Ralph Bird built 29 gigs during his career, working from a workshop on the banks of the Carnon river near the village.
The plaque is being unveiled (on Monday, 14th September 2026), at the site of his former workshop.
Reviving a tradition on the Fal
Ralph Bird was already a skilled boat builder when he had the idea of bringing gig racing back to the Fal estuary, where it had been popular in the 1800s.
He borrowed three gigs and organised a river race on the Fal in 1981, which went on to become an annual event.
He went on to build his first gig, named "Energy", with students at Falmouth Marine School.
As gig racing caught on along the Cornish coast and new clubs began to form, Cadgwith asked Ralph Bird to build them a gig.
"Buller" was the first of the 29 gigs he went on to build at his Devoran workshop.
He was also one of the founding members of the Cornish Pilot Gig Association.
A lasting legacy for the sport
According to organisers, Ralph Bird's maritime history research, his work sharing skills with other boat builders, his writing and talks, and of course his gig building, all played an important part in the current popularity of modern gig racing.
The sport has since spread from its traditional homes on the Isles of Scilly and in Newquay to other parts of the country and into Europe.
There are now 92 gig clubs and more than 9,000 rowers taking part, organisers said.
Gigs are 32-foot traditional "clinker" built wooden boats, rowed by a crew of six and steered by a coxswain.
The unveiling
The plaque has been organised by the Restronguet Creek Society and will be placed on the former workshop courtesy of the property's new owners.
It is being unveiled by Ralph Bird's widow, Marie Bird.
Norma Edwards, a trustee of the Cornish Pilot Gig Association, is speaking about Ralph Bird's importance to the sport.
Welcome and thanks are being given by Dee Reeves of the Restronguet Creek Society.
Devoran Gig Club is expected to arrive at the event in some of its gigs, including "Fear Not", which was built by Ralph Bird in 1991.