Architecture alumnus Hamid Qabazard ventures into boat building

Hamid Qabazard studied Architecture at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, but now is using his design skills to design and fabricate boats. His newest boat design is based on the traditional Pilot Gig.

In 2010 an idea was evolving. The plan was to build a Pilot Gig boat here in Kuwait. Qabazard Marine, with Master Boatbuilder Mostafa Kayello and his apprentice Hamid Qabazard, at the helm, decided to forge ahead and build this boat, 32’ in length, a traditional boat that had multitasked in the UK for many Centuries. They were used as a craft to take Pilots to ships to help navigate them safely into port, equivalent to GPS tracking today. A general-purpose craft for tasks such as cargo delivery and even coming to the aid of the local undertaker, but most famous for outrunning the local Customs men when the Pilot Gig was loaded with smuggled contraband. Back in the day of poor wages these boats earned their keep. Most coastal villages had Pilot Gigs in the harbour waiting to be launched and raced to sea to deposit their pilot aboard a cargo laden vessel. The first Gig getting there getting the prize of putting the Pilot aboard and claiming the purse. Money that kept a family alive for another week or two.

This was the start of Pilot Gig racing and today in the UK, hundreds of years later, the racing has now become an International sport. The boats are now built, and we are ready to go to sea. We also have an International Coach Steve Lock here to help. Steve has rowed in 8 World Championships. He has been Bermuda’s National Coach for the last 2 years, taking them to the top third of World crews in that 2 years.  More information can be found at: giggrowingkuwait@gmail.com or +965 99031123