St Austell Brewery has crowned its long-standing partnership with the Cornish Pilot Gig Association and support for the sport by signing up as a key sponsor for this year’s World Pilot Gig Championships on the Scillies.

Upwards of 160 boats and their crews converge on the islands for the first weekend in May.

As part of the sponsorship, and alongside perennial sponsors the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, St Austell Brewery’s Tribute Cornish Pale Ale will become the official beer of the weekend event, with funds available to help the Championships committee manage the ever-expanding number of registrations from around the world taking part in Men’s, Women’s, Veterans and Super Vets races between May 4 and May 6 on St Mary’s.