In the harbour under a black cloud the fleets started the race on a reach out to the Vilt buoy, the boats that opted for the leeward end of the line benefitted from more wind pressure and slipped away to open water.
After taking the Vilt Buoy to Starboard there was a dead beat into a spring tide and a steady medium breeze. The optimum course was to hug the eastern St. Mawes shore out of the tide and then judge the best point to launch out into the opposing tide to make the best vector to the Black Rock Buoy.
By the time the fleet had reached the windward mark they were beginning to spread out and Grace held her lead in front of Meloris in B fleet, and Juanita kept ahead of Iris Elizabeth in C Class.
After the Black Rock it was a run with the southerly wind and incoming tide to pass through the gate marks by the Harbour entrance then back to Vilt and Black Rock for a second round then finishing at the Flushing Club Line.
After one and three quarters of an hour racing in B-class, it was Grace and Meloris coming in close together, followed by Mildred not far behind. Unfortunately Moon suffered gear failure of her rudder pintle and had to retire.
In C-class Iris Elizabeth and Juanita crossed the line absolutely bowsprit to bowsprit with Leila a little way behind and Truth retired.
After racing the crews assembled in the top room of the infamous Chain Locker Inn in Falmouth. The room is named after the working boat ‘Cousin Jinny’ which is under refit and everyone hopes to see back on the water soon.
The Inn generously provided a tasty Chilli Con Carne, rice and chips for all, and an even tastier bottle of Cornish ‘Tarquin Rum’ which every skipper was plied with a tot. Surplus tots were decanted into the prize silver cups to share around.
The Chain Locker has always been connected with the Working Boats from the very beginnings. There are numerous artifacts and old photos adorning the walls and the memories of past sailors and legendary goings on within the Pub. Many thanks to the manager Josh and his staff for making everyone so welcome.
After the food, the prize giving was conducted with the Silver Cups for both classes and a Special prize of a bronze winch set on a wooden plinth ‘Woody’s Winch’ presented to the first wooden boat in B fleet.
The winch is in memory of Robert Woodhouse who was a total character, he sailed on the ‘Victory’ in the days of Toby West and Boyo Carne. Woody was responsible for a vast amount of work restoring Victory to the boat she is today, he unfortunately succumbed to cancer very young. But the memories sail on!
With a bit of lubrication on board totted up by the rum, the crews all joined in a good ole’ shout (sing-song) . There is nothing better than the throng of voices all belting out traditional songs in a pub atmosphere. Just like the bygone days when singing was a regular occurrence especially in the Chain Locker. The songs are mostly Cornish based or sea shanty types, they have been taken up by numerous groups and broadcast on a national basis for example ‘Fishermens Friends’ and locals such as ‘The Oggy Men’ and Will Keeting. In recent years rounding off with the now Cornish national anthem ‘Cornwall my Home’ written by Harry Glasson.
The Working Boat fleet is lucky to have a core of singers who know all the songs words and can lead the singing, as is, in the tradition of the Falmouth Working Boats.
The results on corrected handicap times:
C Class
1st. Juanita (Cup) 2nd. Iris Elizabeth 3rd. Leila 4th. Truth(retd).
B Class
1st. Grace(Cup) 2nd. Mildred( Woody’s Winch) 3rd. Meloris 4th. Stella 5th. Rebecca 6th. Evelyn 7th. Florence 8th. Winnie 9th. Moon(retd).
This was the last scheduled bespoke Working Boat 2026 season race.
Next event is The Falmouth Oyster Festival this year held on Sunday 11th. October with an 11.30 am start and celebration in the Event tent in the afternoon.
After the above the annual Silver Oyster Race at Mylor for dredging Boats (Race boats welcome) is on Thursday 5th. November. FWBA Annual Dinner Dance at Falmouth Hotel is on Saturday 7th. November