Lola No. 51
Deliverance No. 52
Held on June 20th 2026 at mid-summer in a heatwave. This year, because of available Saturdays, the memorial race was combined with The Penrose Sailmakers and Pascoes Boatyard annual regatta, administered by Flushing Sailing Club and expertly managed by our Race Officer John Maunder, his wife Liz and team on his yacht Melkin.
The afternoon started with a gentle northwesterly breeze so John Mundr positioned his committee boat between the Governor Buoy and Black Rock to give an upwind start towards Vilt Buoy. Within 10 minutes of the B-Class start the glorious weather had built up heat over the land, the offshore breeze switched off and a light sea breeze came in. It was too late to move the committee boat to the opposite side of the harbour so John went for down wind running starts. As it was a gentle increasing breeze there wasn’t a big pile up at the first leeward mark and everyone enjoyed good upwind legs albeit the opposite way round.
Both classes finished at the Flushing Club line, there was only eight minutes between first and last in the B-Class fleet of nine boats, and only two minutes between the first three C-Class boats, the fourth one was late for the start and followed up the rear.
The race was in memory of David ‘Tatty’ Muirhead, The nickname of Tatty being earned as he was not exactly a follower of fashion, slightly always dishevelded. An unassuming man born in 1950 in Budock, son of Captain Muirhead MBE, JP and Mary Muirhead who was full time secretary of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club for many years. Tatty loved his sailing, with his family and as part owner of The Victory. When they came ashore he had a great voice and led the singing, later being the leader of the Cadgwith Pub singers. Tatty qualified as a solicitor practising in Helston, at the same time every morning going out from Falmouth to haul his crab pots. He became Chairman of The Cornish Sea Fisheries Panel applying his legal and fishing knowledge. He was Chairman of the Helston Conservation Group. Was recognised for his efforts and made a Cornish Bard earning a MBE in 2008. On top of all this he found time and enthusiasm to Captain Falmouth Rugby Team and Chair the newly formed Cornish Gig Association drawing up all their Constitution and Rules. Unfortunately The dreaded ‘C’ got him early and he passed away in 2021, sailed away but not forgotten by the so many he interacted with. It is legendary Characters like Tatty that make the Falmouth Working Boats ethos and the Tradition that sails on.
In the combined Memory Race we also remember the infamous Arthur ‘Toby’ West. Probably the most renowned owner skippers in the Working Boats and on the waterfronts of Falmouth and Fowey. Toby born in 1919 was christened Arthur West he adopted the name Toby from his father. His grandfather and father both served on the Falmouth RNLI lifeboat, Toby carried on the tradition serving for 34 years and coxswain from 1974 until he retired in 1980. The Working Boats remember Toby as the owner and skipper of ’the most famous’ Victory. Standing out in the fleet with her bright yellow hull and Toby in his distinctive french beret. Toby’s father owned the original Victory which broke up in a gale in 1920. To replace her they bought the Royal Oak built at the Hitchens Yard in Restronquet in 1882, she was duly renamed Victory in 1928. The exploits of Toby and his crews could fill a book and are legendary in Falmouth and Fowey. One incident was during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977, the Queen and family visited Falmouth and HRH Prince Edward had a sail on the Victory with Toby. They came upon the Winnie and a race was on, A wager of one pound was placed that he couldn’t beat the Winnie. As it happened they managed first and HRH collected his winnings. A few days later Toby received a thank you letter from HRH and enclosed was 5op as he reckoned Toby was entitled to half the prize money.
The results for the glorious memorial race day on corrected times by handicap are:
B-CLASS
- Lola, Amy Creeden
- Evelyn, Will Semken
- Victory, Dave Carne
- Helen Mary, Callum Ferris
- Moon, Steve Hills
- Winnie, Martyn Paige
- Stella, Ian Jenkins
- Florence Steve Miles
- Meloris, Sam Heard
C-CLASS
- Deliverance, Viscount Falmouth
- Lottie, Phil and Jilly Slater
- Iris Elizabeth, Peter Caldwell
- Lelia, Adam Bird