Ralph Bird, one of the men responsible for reviving Cornish pilot gig racing and the builder of no fewer than 29 top class gigs, was honoured by the Newquay Rowing Club over the weekend when hundreds of people turned up for the launch of his last gig, aptly named Ralph Bird.

Assembled on the beach at Newquay's historic harbour were the 29 gigs built by the Devoran-based boat builder, who is one of the top men in his profession. Ralph said that this was his last gig as he now wished to retire and concentrate on his hobby of researching maritime history.

The gigs are a testimony to one man's skill and a legacy to the sport few will ever achieve. With four gigs borrowed from the Newquay Club in 1981 for a race on the River Fal, Ralph began the revival in the sport.

Ralph has built gigs for the Falmouth, Helford, Roseland, Cadgwith and Devoran clubs to name but a few.

The Ralph Bird gig was built for the Porthgain Club established in 2004 and based at Porthgain Harbour, north Pembrokeshire, which is currently the only club in Wales that rows a Cornish Pilot Gig. Ralph has built four gigs for the club.

Gigs and gig rowers from across Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and from Wales travelled to Newquay to honour the man who means so much to the gig rowing community.

Addressing the crowd, Ralph said: "I never thought gig rowing would take off in the way that it did. It has been an honour and a privilege to build the gigs and meet the hundreds of people associated with the sport."

The local priest from Porthgain blessed the Ralph Bird gig ashore in both Welsh and English before she was carried down to the beach and launched for her first outing on the water.

The modest boat builder coxed the Porthgain crew in their new boat for a Parade of Gigs across the bay.

Crews tossed their oars in salute and gave Ralph Bird three cheers as he passed the assembled line up.