PRESENT and past members of the military and their families are being invited to join a new Minehead-based amateur rowing club aimed at boosting physical fitness and mental wellbeing and helping to cope with life outside the Services.

EPIC GIGability, a successful Cornish pilot gig rowing club, founded by a charity three years ago, is now planning to expand into Somerset, starting in Minehead, and hopes to have its first traditional six-oared gig on the Bristol Channel this summer.

A spokesperson said: “We are initially looking for at least a dozen people to help get things going.

“With many veterans and Service personnel in the West Somerset area, we believe their mix of camaraderie, teamwork, and resilience can bring huge benefits to the Service community.

“If you have not done much rowing or had anything to do with the water before, it is great to be out there with a nice bunch of people from all walks of Service life and getting the benefit of ‘blue water therapy’.”

Falmouth-based EPIC club - which stands for ‘Every Person Is Capable’ - has more than 50 members and has competed in the gig world championships in the Scilly Isles.

It has arranged a 32-foot gig loan to the new West Somerset club and Somerset Council will provide two Minehead Harbour moorings.

The original group was set up to provide ‘a safe haven for veterans on the margins of life’ and plans to give the Minehead project ‘the absolute best support we can’.

Pilot gigs were originally evolved to ferry pilots to and from ships.

Today, there are more than 100 clubs around the world using the boats for sport and leisure, including one in Porlock Weir.

More information on the new Minehead project can be found on Facebook EPIC GIGgability or by calling 07929 572742 or emailing [email protected].