BELFAST — Three gig racing teams from Belfast’s ComeBoating! community rowing organization, are training to compete in the World Pilot Gig Championships which takes place annually in the Isles of Scilly off the coast of Cornwall, England. There, the Belfast crews — a women’s open team, men’s open team, and women’s super vets team — will face stiff competition from hundreds of the world’s best pilot gig teams, most of which hail from the U.K.

“It is likely the Maine teams will be the only Americans competing,” said ComeBoating!, in a news release. “In 2018, the women’s open crew from Belfast took 34th place out of 152 teams, a surprise success that they hope to repeat in 2024.”

ComeBoating! is raising funds both to support the teams traveling to England and to provide much-needed maintenance to their fleet of three 32-foot traditional Cornish pilot gigs. The boats are the soul of the organization, providing the community with a unique, affordable, and healthy way to get out and enjoy beautiful Belfast Bay while making new friends.

On New Year’s Eve the public is invited to join ComeBoating! for The Hot Sugar Shindig. A night of dancing and celebration at the American Legion, 143 Church Street in Belfast.

“Get ready to groove to The Hot Suppers and The Sugar Snaps bands, and fill your bellies with celebratory food and drink offerings and a Mocktail Bar too!” said the release. “This is a party perfect way to ring in the New Year with horns and a disco ball and will benefit ComeBoating! and the ComeBoating! teams headed to the 2024 World Pilot Gig Championships in England in May.”

ComeBoating! is a non-profit community rowing organization dedicated to offering open water rowing opportunities to people of all abilities. ComeBoating! is unique among rowing organizations in that anyone from the public can go for a row for free, with only a small donation requested. All of the racers traveling to England in May began as community rowers who caught the rowing bug and couldn’t stop. You can support the Women’s Open Racing team as they raise funds to cover travel to England by visiting their GoFundMe site: “Send Belfast Women Rowers to UK Pilot Gig Champs!”

Tickets and information for The Hot Sugar Shindig are available at Eventbrite.com. For full details visit seek The Hot Suppers or Sugar Snaps on social media. More information about ComeBoating! Is available at www.comeboating.org.