Unfortunately the Graham Pearce Memorial race on Saturday June 8th was cancelled by the Flushing Race Committee due to gale force winds. We are waiting for a later date to be allocated by the Sailing Secretary.
Graham was the builder and helm of Cousin Jack, before moving on to build and sail Cousin Jinny. He crewed on the Lifeboat and was Commodore of Flushing Sailing Club. A legend! If you haven’t seen it you may enjoy this YouTube feature ‘Falmouth Working Boat Race’ by Dave Straton. (Above left Cousin Jack No. 14, now dredging from Mylor.)
The following Saturday was the Falmouth Classics and Sea Shanty Festival; This event is held as an open regatta to all Classic and vintage boats. The shoreside hosts numerous Sea Shanty singers creating a real buzz in the town and plenty of boats sailing around the harbour.
The Falmouth Working Boats can enter the Friday, Saturday and Sunday events but tend to just sail on the Saturday and compete for The George Folkes Trophies.
George Folkes was landlord of the Seven Stars (Lower House) in Flushing and a great friend of Toby West. George presented the trophies exclusively for the Working Boats
The race was held in very light airs and made for close racing. In C-Class,Dolly, sailed by Adam Davies, was nearly five minutes late for the start but took a different side of the river to the rest of the fleet in front of him and caught them all up, finishing neck and neck with Deliverance at the finish.
The results:
B-Class
1st. Florence – Steve Miles. Winning a beautiful copper model working boat in a case.
2nd. Lola – Amy Creedon. Winning a large George Folkes silver cup.
3rd. Rebecca – Verity Slater, winning the George Foulkes Shield with a picture of Victory in the centre
4th. Winnie – Arty Williams.
5th Evelyn – Rob Wing.
C-Class
1st. Dolly – Adam Davies, winning the George Folkes Shield with a centre medallion
2nd. Deliverance – Viscount Falmouth, winning the George Folkes shield
3rd. Iris Elizabeth – Peter Caldwell.
Saturday 19th is the Toby West and David (Tatty) Muirhead memorial race afterwards at the Seven Stars on The Moor, in Falmouth. Always great hosts and weather permitting should be a good turnout. This year the race is combined into the Penrose Sailmakers and Pascoe’s Boatyard open regatta. Committee boat starts and lots of other classes to manoeuvre around.