Falmouth Classics - here's all you need to know!

The port will be alive with classic craft, some that formerly worked for a living or were built for specifically for cruising and racing. A variety of different sailing rigs will be fill the Carrick Roads including gaff, lug, sprit and Bermudan.

Well over a quarter of the boats will have been built before 1950 with several dating from the late 19th century. The oldest boat in the event is the Cornish Maritime Trust’s St Ives lugger “Barnabas” launched in 1881.

More than 100 of the participating boats will be out racing on Friday and Saturday, including a fleet of nine pilot cutters, six of them original and three built in recent times. Falmouth Working Boats, including the Hitchens built Victory dating from 1883, will be joining one of the 13 classes in the Teamac Race on Saturday. This year thanks to sponsors Teamac, Noble Masts and Musto there are lots of valuable prizes to be won.

Annie of Charlestown a topsail schooner built in Denmark in 1930 Credit: David Barnicoat

All of the vessels over 20’, are expected to participate in the Sunday morning parade of sail and power. The parade will be led by the Falmouth RNLI lifeboats followed by “Lilian”, a 1916 Danish built motor yacht now based on the River Thames, next will be the 1930s topsail schooner “Annie of Charlestown” and the 1907 West Country Trading Ketch “Irene”, now operated by Sea Sanctuary.

Following these vessels will be a spectacular array of 140 sailing and powered vessels. Watching the parade from Fal River’s “Moyana” will be the deputy lord lieutenant of Cornwall, the chair of Cornwall Council and the mayor and mayoress of Falmouth together with sponsors and sailing club commodores.

The guest will be judging the participants. Parade prize winners will receive bottles of champagne organised by sponsor Vino Direct. Following the morning parade, open boats 20’ and under will participate in the Heather and Lay sponsored small boat parade in the inner harbour. Boats will be under sail, oars or in the case of the National Maritime Museum’s entry of “Emma”, under steam.

On Saturday, June18 there is an open rowing and sculling competition at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club from 4.30pm – 6pm. competitors will use their own boats or those provided by Hardiesse, the Falmouth training ship.

To enable the public to get up close to 70 of the boats, the Falmouth Haven, at the bottom of Quay Street, will be open from 9am – 10.30am and again from 4pm – 6pm on Saturday, June 18. Entry will be limited to 50 on the pontoons at any one time and although entry is free there will be a collection for the Falmouth RNLI and Coast Medic.

From Friday to Sunday there will be a "Classics Maritime Village" on Custom House Quay. Exhibitors will include the Royal Navy, Drascombe Boats and Cornwall Marine, Falmouth Marine School, RNLI, marine charities and trusts, the headline sponsors Atkins Ferrie Wealth Management, Falmouth Distillery, Falmouth Smokehouse and the Seaweed Institute, Clean Ocean Sailing and a variety of marine art and crafts.

The Richard Cox Scott, a Severn Class all weather RNLI lifeboat will lead the Parade of Power and Sail on Sunday 19th June. Credit: Simon Culliford

The volunteer team of 14 will swell to 50 with members being drawn from local sailing clubs, the National Coastwatch Station at Nare Point and the Falmouth and Exeter University Sailing Club. The volunteers will be helping with registration in the Windjammer, berthing on the Haven, receptions, helping to run the races and the parades and providing on the water safety.

The organising team has been delighted with the support provided by the many sponsors and advertisers, mostly local to the port and many loyal supporters of the event for several years.

Programme

June 16 Vessels arrive in the port to berth from 11am

Friday 17

11.30am: Race 1 First class start in the Carrick Roads

2pm: Race 2 First class Start in the Carrick Roads

Classics Maritime Village on Custom House Quay opens at 10am and will be open on Saturday and Sunday

Saturday 18

Teamac Race First Class Start 11.30

9.30am – 10.30am and 4pm – 6pm: Public on the Haven Pontoon to view boats

4.30pm – 6pm: Rowing and sculling competition Royal Cornwall Yacht Club

Sunday 19:

10:30am – 12 noon: Parade of Sail and Power – Carrick Roads

1.30pm - 2.30pm: Small Boat Parade – Inner Harbour

Places to view Racing and parade of Sail and Power

Trefusis Point and the path to Mylor, Castle Drive, Pendennis Point, St Mawes Castle and the path to towards St Just and the coastal path from St Anthony’s lighthouse to Place

Race Days only – Gyllyngvase to watch some of the larger craft depending on the course set.

Small Boat Parade – Custom House Quay and North Quay