MEMBERS of the Boscastle & Crackington Haven Gig Club are confident that their boat, 'Torrent', will be ready for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in June, after an incident on Friday, February 3 saw it sustain substantial damage at sea.

A crew comprising six members, one cox and one passenger departed from Crackington at around 2.30pm, heading out on to flat seas. For a good hour, the team enjoyed perfect conditions, even taking the opportunity to photograph wildlife — including seals and dolphins.

It wasn't until their return however that things began to get a little bit choppy, the waves picking up as they approached the shore. In conditions unsuitable for a gig boat, the team were doing well in making progress back to land before disaster struck.

Around 20 yards from shore and in fairly shallow waters, the boat was caught offside by a rogue wave, capsizing and throwing out its crew. Whilst they were without major injury — a few bumps and scrapes the worst of it — Torrent was in an all more difficult predicament, as now pitched on rocks and full of water, the waves took turns in delivering blows to its wooden hull.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post'.