It is the week before the first scheduled event for the Grace and Gibbard trophies. To be held and hosted by Flushing Sailing Club. The week after is the Percy Dalton/Toby West cups, sailed from Flushing Sailing Club and hosted by Ginny and Roger at The Royal Standard, Flushing. The Grace cups were donated by the syndicate of owners who built working boat Grace No.54 in Pendennis Shipyard using Martin Heards mould around 1980. The Gibbard trophy goes back to the 1970’s when Nigel Gibbard owned the Greenbank Hotel and the favourite locals drinking venue was the bottom bar in the Hotel (now the Working Boat Bar).
A few updates in the fleets this season.
In B-Class
Agnes 33 has been sold to Zane Dutton who crewed on Moon, he is intending to use her for dredging Oysters from Mylor but might do a bit of racing, we hope so.
Grace 54 has had a refit and is hoping to be on the race circuit again, one of our most consistent and competitive boats on the Falmouth shore.
Evelyn 15, a lovely wooden boat and potentially one of the fastest in the fleet, has a new set of St. Mawes syndicate owners.
Rebecca 24 has been sold to Verity Slater, bringing her back into the Slater ownership. Verity’s father Dr. Phil Slater had the boat built at the Heards Boatyard circa 1977 and was the first GRP working boat built as a race boat. Verity is a very accomplished sailor and will be a crew to watch on the Falmouth side this year.
Helen Mary 11 is now headed up by Callum Ferris in St. Mawes. Taking over from where the renowned Kevin Andrew who was always competitive, he took over from the original owner Denis Laity.
Abigail Rose 32 is back on the water after a year laid up. Sam Harding has a very busy work schedule and a young family, and he has struggled to find time, but is delighted to get the boat out again on the Falmouth side.
Mabel 41 Brian Chenoweth who has not been in good health and has also struggled to get crew from St. Mawes. Hoping someone will take on the boat as she has always been a regular competitor.
Demelza 28 also one of the fastest boats from St.Mawes is possibly not going to be out, John Andrew is currently doing a brilliant job as Commodore of St.Mawes Sailing Club and with family commitments which are all very time consuming. Hopefully, he will return as soon as time allows.
Endeavour 6, beautiful wooden boat owned by Ollie Graffey, has suffered some damage which is undergoing repairs at Mylor Dockyard and not scheduled to go afloat this season.
Lola 51 owned by Amy Creedon in Mylor is back after a refit and will be sailed by Amy and Ollie. They will be very competitive and ones to watch.
Gertie 53 has been taken on by Spike and son Jake from John Watkins (Watty) for a major refit. Whether we see her back in the Association remains to be seen.
Cousin Jinny 56 owned by Tim Pearce is ashore drying out,ready for refit hopefully if not for next year probably the 2028 season.
In C-Class
Serica 17 is having a new keel fitted to the wood hull, hoping to make her a bit stiffer as Paul Ferris found her a bit tender in a breeze. She is pretty much original to when she was dredging. Paul is hoping to be on the water for the Championships
Deliverance 52 now refitted with a new bowsprit and sail wardrobe should be on the water based in Falmouth. Owned by Lord Falmouth, maintained and sailed by Darren Drew and Gary Denning.
Sapphire 44 owned by Henry Maples has not been sold and Henry is hoping to do a bit of racing and cruising with the family.
Ayrshire Lass 39 which is attached to a superyacht is hoping to make another appearance this season when the superyacht visits Falmouth.
Dolly 35 dredged and raced by the late legend Barrie Prynn, now owned by Adam Davies she is afloat in Falmouth and ready to go. Adam is a great sailor and with his young crew will be up and going fast.
Truth 61 Ross Collett and team have made a few tweaks and are in the water, you can’t say they are not keen!
All the boats I haven’t mentioned are hopefully all geared up and ready to go . We all hope it will be pleasant weather and good turnouts. Please make sure you make your entries, especially the Flushing Sailing Club to cover the Saturday events. FSC this year will not time you in if you are not entered, then no placing.