Rowing - An Exercise in Integration

      

Integration is fast becoming a buzzword in ex-pat circles but still remains a most satisfying exercise, and one we all try with varying degrees of success. Whilst we celebrate the differences that add interest and intrigue, we also find that when we combine this with a common interests a real coming together of cultures emerges into a memorable occasion.

Such an event took place on El Palo Beach, Malaga one sunny Sunday in January.

A visiting team of traditional Gig rowers from Cornwall met up with their equivalent Jabega rowing club of Malaga.

 Members of the Mounts Bay Gig Club, Cornwall, met up with members of La Espailla, Asociacion del Remo Traditional, for a joint row in Malaga Bay.

After convivial and enthusiastic introductions were made on the paseo the visitors were shown the boathouse and more importantly the boats. The ladies presented their hosts with the Cornish flag explaining the connection with St Piran the Patron Saint. In return the hosts presented the ladies with T-shirts bearing the club's emblem, it was then time to get down to the job of launching the boat, by manual labour.

They then rowed in unison following the shoreline to the lighthouse by the port. Augutin at the helm would at times steer the boat into the breakers as an added challenge, attracting the attention of Sunday walkers along the Paseo, who waved and cheered to the intrepid team

the atmosphere on board the Jabega was buoyant and banter was exchanged in both languages.
After a gruelling two hour row the joyful but exhausted team returned to El Palo for a well deserved lunch at El Zagal Chiringuito. 


The lunch was traditional fritura, a mix of fried fishes and squids, washed down with cold beer. Convivial conversations Broke out spontaneously as stories of both countries were related, questions asked, explanations given and understanding grew! laughter and ribald humour abounded as the two backgrounds settled comfortably in one jovial group. 
      


Carmen, a street hawker, that sells roses to enamoured couples, appeared and Augustin magnanimously bought roses for the ladies and bade or rather bribed Carmen to sing a Spanish sea shanty which thrilled the visitors into rapturous applause who in return sang a Cornish ayre.
Talk then turned to a return visit to Cornwall and was agree in a quickly convened meeting and Easter was set as the date for the trip.

Video from on board the Jabega and other jollies  

 The day ended with hug and kisses and promises of future reunions, altogether time well spent.

Information on the clubs and the members: 

Mounts Bay Pilots Gig Club
Founded in1986 the club spent two years of fundraising to raise £10,000 necessary to build their first boat 'Lyonnesse' named after the legendary 'Lost Land' between the Cornish Coast and the Isles of Scilly. The Lyonesse was built by Ralf Bird and launched in 1988. Later in 1990  second boat 'Sally was launched.
The Mount's Bay Ladies are called 'The Tackies' due to the colourful, flamboyant dress code of the '80's.
Participating today;
Zoe Payne - Chairperson.
Sandra Barbiero -  Broken Pin Winner.
Jo Culley - Gold Medal Winner, Veteran Class.
Becca Harvey- renowned Artist
Barbara Tremaine - English Teacher & Multi talented Flipsider.

Club La Espailla

The club was formed over40 years ago and row the traditional Jabega style boats and promote the culture of this type of boat at events all over Spain. At times they fish from the boats wearing traditional costumes

  Participating today;
Agustin 'Reverts' - Patrón, Chairperson
Felipe 'Ipe'             - 1st Rower
Paco  'Kiko'.          - Row Hand
Francisco de paula 'paua - Row Hand 

More information along with videos and fotos can be seen on 'Malaga on the flipside' Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/malagaflipside?ref=tn_tnmn