BELFAST (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- "Stroke!" yells the coxswain as a group of rowers head slowly and efficiently across the bay.
These rowers are from the Come Boating Club. They are preparing for a trip to England and what is essentially the world championships of the sport.
Gigs would take pilots out to visiting ships. Pilots knew the harbor and could steer the ship in safely.
"The tradition started that the firstpilot that got to the ship would get the job," said John Dillenbeck. "They designed the boats to be fast so they could race there and get that job."
The tradition of racing gigs was revived in the 20th Century, long after steam power had replaced the rowers' muscle.
Come Boating, attempts to create educational boating-related programs that preserve and broaden the maritime heritage of the Belfast area community.