Falmouth Classics regatta becomes something to sing about
by Tom Bailey 8 Jan 2013 04:15 AEDT
14-16 June 2013
Falmouth classics Victory and Warrior on the run with Pendennis Castle in the background © Roger Hollingsworth
Falmouth Classics regatta is to get bigger and better than ever as the traditional one-day race becomes three days of dedicated classic boat racing with a new link to the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival that promises timeless entertainment on and off the water.
For more than 20 years, Falmouth Classics has been a single race taking place on the first day of the more general Falmouth Week regatta in August.
While it provided racing for upto 150 boats from the local area, Falmouth Classics was considered to have never reached its potential in attracting boats from farther afield.
Now a group of volunteer sailing enthusiasts has banded together to take the festival to another level by scaling it up by 300 per cent and running it in conjunction with the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival which has been steadily growing in popularity.
The new-look Falmouth Classics takes place on June 14 to 16, 2013 with crews being welcomed into the port on the Thursday evening for racing on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Alongside the racing will be the sounds of salty song in the form of maritime music and shanties from various groups performing in venues around the port, on and off the water.
The group of volunteer organisers, under the banner of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club's events company, with assistance from various other agencies and sponsors, includes some of the port's most highly qualified and experienced race, safety and shore-side officers.
Falmouth Classics will be open to a wide range of classic boats, both sailing and powered, and will provide interest and entertainment for people from all walks of life and of all ages. With the shanty festival running alongside, there will be no shortage of opportunities for people to get involved.
Chair of the organising committee, Roger Hollingsworth said: "For too long Falmouth Classics has hidden its light under a bushel. Making the regatta into a high quality substantial stand-alone sailing event is exactly the right thing for Falmouth Classics, it's the right thing for the shanty festival and it's going to be great for the port of Falmouth. We can't wait to see it in full swing."
"To host a long weekend of great classic boat sailing in the glorious waters of the Fal Estuary, one of the best sailing grounds in Europe, will be a real coup," added Roger.
The announcement comes at the close of a sailing season in Falmouth that reached new highs. The port where the young Ben Ainslie learned his sailing, last year hosted the J Class Regatta, the Pendennis Cup, and the Finn Gold Cup among other events and continues to attract world-class sailing events.
Richard Gates, Falmouth town manager and chairman of the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, said: "Linking the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival with the Falmouth Classics makes perfect sense bringing events on the water and ashore even closer together. With the RNLI being the nominated charity for both festivals this a further positive partnership."
Those interested in more information on the Falmouth Classics regatta people can register their interest on the Falmouth Classic's website www.falmouthclassics.org.uk. More information on the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival can be found on www.falmouthseashanty.co.uk