Gig Racing involves six crew rowing and a cox steering the gig over an average race distance of around 2.5 miles. The course will usually have two or three turns on marker buoys which are presided over by officials making sure the rules are obeyed. Any crews not adhering to the rules are disqualified. The winner is simply the first one back across the finish line.

The original purpose of the Cornish pilot gig was as a general work boat, and the craft was used for taking pilots out to incoming vessels off the Atlantic. Back then, the race would be the first gig to get their pilot on board a vessel (before it run aground ) got the job, and hence the payment. This is where the competitive nature of the crews came in!