Steeped in the traditions of the Falmouth Working Boats is the annual Harbour Race. The race is set in the confines of the Inner Harbour this gives the whole waterfront a picture postcard view of the majestic boats sailing at close quarters.
The harbour bylaws prohibit boats, for safety reasons , from sailing inside the lines of moorings, so racing is restricted to the defined fairways.
John Maunder the Race Officer and his team on the committee boat ‘Melkin’ set the startline outside the harbour on the St. Mawes side, with a beat against a southwesterly breeze up to Trefusis mark, this gave time for the two fleets to spread out and minimized close tacking near the moored boats. From Trefusis it was upwind to a mid channel buoy set off Flushing Sailing Club around to port and downwind to a porthand buoy set between Custom House Quay and The Maritime Museum, back to Trefusis and repeat twice more, finishing between Melkin and the Museum buoy.
B Class went off first with Meloris slow off the line but showed her speed and by the Flushing turn was clear ahead. Next came Rebecca together with Abigail Rose ( Abigail Rose was being sailed by the Rita crew and were using Rita’s sails and topsail, confusing for the shoreside spectators) each of them taking the second place and having a good battle. Victory, Florence and Winnie chasing hard.
C Fleet were delighted to have the reappearance on the startline of Ayrshire Lass, a classic 24 foot wood boat designed and built by William Fife in 1887 at The Fairlie Yard in Scotland. She has been lovingly restored and maintained by Paul Goss, captain of the superyacht Adix. With Paul on the helm and the local Ferris crew she leapt away into the lead with Iris Elizabeth and Juanita in close pursuit.
After the race the crews moored up and assembled at the Working Boat Bar under The Greenbank Hotel. This bar used to be one of the favoured pubs for the working boat crews with its vista of the harbour. It was renowned for serving pints of Bass direct from the barrel,for sing songs and revelry. The regulars of Toby West, Aubrey Chandler,Smokey Penrose, John ‘Watty’ Watkins,etc with John and Cynthia serving behind the bar, all played their part in the legend of the ‘Bottom Bar’.
The bar shut for structural reasons for several years, when most locals moved to the ‘Star and Garter with Paul and Jayne.
When the Hotel reopened the bar they named it ‘The Working Boat’ which is now like most pubs very food orientated, but does sell a range of quality beers including the famous ‘Doom Bar’.
On the occasion of the Harbour Race the pub put on a generous barrel of free beer and provided hot pasties for all the crews, This went down very well with the assembled sailors.
The traditional prize giving was conducted with each boat and their position called out to a cheer from all. Thanks, to the Race Committee and a hearty three cheers for the Greenbank Hotel for their sponsorship of the race and hospitality.
C- Class on corrected times
1st. Ayrshire Lass, Paul Goss. 2nd. Iris Elizabeth, Peter Cauldwell. 3rd. Juanita, Jon Brunyee
B-Class on corrected times
1st. Meloris, Sam Heard. 2nd. Abigail Rose, Robin Edwards. 3rd. Rebecca, Verity Perham. 4th. Victory, Dave Carne. 5th. Florence, Steve Miles. 6th. Winnie, Arthur Williams.
