Working Boats ready for world championships

THE Falmouth Working Boat Association hold their fifth 'World' Championships, starting tomorrow and running through to Sunday.

The event will be based in St Mawes, in association with St Mawes Sailing Club.

Falmouth Working Boats are magnificent Gaff-rigged sailing vessels that traditionally fish for oysters under sail only during the oyster season from October to March in the Truro oyster fishery, and race in village regattas in, and around the Carrick Roads during the summer months.

A number of boats that race still support this tradition, maintaining the last remaining fishery in Europe that fishes under sail alone.

The Working Boats are easily recognisable by their colourful topsails, and can be seen competing throughout the summer in village regattas, during Falmouth and Fowey regatta weeks, and also during the FWBA's Championships.

The boats vary in age, and construction. Some of the older boats are constructed from wood and are more than 100 years old, with most new boats being made from GRP. There are also two classes of boats, larger boats competing in class B, and the smaller boats in class C. This year there are 22 entries consisting of 14 large Working Boats, and eight small Working Boats.

The very experienced race officer Ron Medlyn, will be assisted by John and Liz Maunder on board the committee boat Melkin, with starters Cedric Thomas and Gary Morse.

During the Championships there will be two races for each class on Friday June 26 and Saturday 27, starting at 11am (Class B) and 11.10 (Class C), and 3pm (Class B) and 3.10 (Class C). On Sunday June 28 there will be one race for each class, starting at 11am and 11.10.

After racing the crews will enjoy the hospitality of St Mawes in the Sailing Club and Billiards and Social Club. The Working Boat Championships are very well supported by businesses in both Falmouth and St Mawes, and all the sponsors are invited to join the Working Boat crews for refreshments on Saturday evening.

Anyone wishing to view the spectacle of these beautiful boats racing should be able to do so from the vantage points of Pendennis Point Falmouth, or Castle Point St Mawes. The races will finish in St Mawes harbour, where the harbour will also offer a grandstand view.

The Falmouth Working Boat Association is very pleased to support the Handstand Appeal for Marshall Janson as the Championship's charity 2009.

Programmes, which include a pictorial list of the colours of the topsails of the boats that are racing, can be purchased from venues in St Mawes, including the Visitors Centre and the Post Office, with all donations going to the Handstand appeal.