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A Brief History of the Gloucester Gig Rowers Association

The original group of Gloucester Gig rowers rowed Siren Song until the early 1990's, when other interests and events intervened. She spent some time in dry dock in Jim and Nicole Richon Shoel's backyard. Later, she was loaned to rowing programs at the Hull (MA) Life Saving Museum and Kittery, Maine.

In the spring of 2001, to bring a rowing program to the newly-formed Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center, Ann Banks organized a new group to row the Siren Song and take over her maintenance. By June, Siren Song was repainted and launched. Later that summer, Mike Jenness of Saquish Rowing Club (Duxbury) provided rowers with instruction in proper gig-rowing technique since passed on from member to member as more rowers have joined the group.

Since then, the number of active members has grown steadily and we are in the process of fundraising for both another boat and a youth-rowing program.

The gig rowers have participated in several races, and have made social/rowing excursions to other clubs in New England.