Sunday September 20th. 2026 autumn weather is unpredictable and this year it encircled the harbour with a high pressure. The day dawned with an autumnal mist and very little likelihood of a decent breeze. This gave Rob Richards and Ian Reid the Race Officers at St. Mawes Sailing Club a slight headache of which course to set. The regatta included several other yacht classes all struggling with the conditions. It is always the Working Boats that provide the spectacle for the watchers on the shore and this year they were delighted with the site of thirteen fully rigged boats with their colourful topsails like paintings reflecting on a glassy sea.
At the start time for B Class the tide was running out and the nine boats drifted up to the line and with help of the tide drifted out towards the harbour. Five minutes later it was the three C Class boats who joined them all searching for zephyrs of breeze.
The course set was Black Rock buoy to port, Governor buoy to port then back to St. Mawes turning mark. Part way on the first leg it didn’t look hopeful, and the Race Officer shortened the course to come straight back to the finish after rounding Black Rock buoy. Shortly this after the sea breeze started to draw in and the fleets were able to sail to the finish.
It is always a dilemma whether to shorten a race and get a finish, or hold on in hope, or then end up with the fleet becalmed and no result. A difficult call! This time all the boats finished and were timed in.
This gave time for the crews to sample the hospitality of the traditional pub The Victory Inn in the heart of St. Mawes. Many thanks to Paul and his team who kept up the tradition of holding this enjoyable event. And thanks to one of the fleet’s characters John Andrew (JA) who did his excellent delivery of the results and presentation of the trophies outside the pub.
JA the previous Chairman of The Working Boat Association was guest crewing on the ‘Winnie’ for the day with Arty Williams. JA’s boat ‘Demelza’ is not currently in the water as he has been extremely busy as the Commodore of St.Mawes Sailing Club. Two other guest crews were Phil and Jilly Slater who were on board with Adam Bird on ‘Leila’ . Phil had the misfortune with his boat ‘Lottie’ to snap his mast on the last day of Falmouth Week.Hoping to be all restored ready for next season.
Results for The Victory Inn Cups on corrected times for two wonderful wood boats on the podium.
Lovely to see in B Class the ‘Evelyn’ taking 1st place.
‘Evelyn’ is a classic wooden boat built by Frank Hitchens in Restronguet in 1898, she became the original syndicate owned boat based in St.Mawes. Currently the syndicate is headed up by Rob Wing and sailed by Will Smeken.
In C Class another absolutely classic wood boat took 1st. place; ‘Juanita’
She was built in Falmouth by Thomas Jacket in 1896 two years before ‘Evelyn’ , a beautiful shaped hull previously raced in St.Mawes by Douggie Burnett, now owned and restored by Chris Harker and sailed by Jon Brunyee and Brian Steptoe.
There are only two more races scheduled for this season, The Chain Locker cups on Saturday September 26th and The Oyster Festival Race on Sunday October 11th.