FRENCH sailors were met with Cornish hospitality after arriving in Falmouth as part of the annual CeltiKup competition.

Falmouth's mayor, Grenville Chappel, greeted the group of around 50 sailors in the council chamber on Wednesday with pasties and beer. The sailors had arrived from Douarnenez in Brittany, one of the legs of the 450-mile round voyage, which brought them to Falmouth for the twelfth year.

Mr Chappel said he hoped the group enjoyed their stay, despite the terrible weather, and added that he looked forward to watching the next leg of the competition. The sailors expressed thanks to the mayor and the town for their hospitality.

Beatrice Kernow, who has been involved with organising the Inter-Celtic Festival for 41 years, provided translation between the two parties.

The group were made to feel welcome with a selection of cheese, wine and crackers, pasties and a keg of beer donated by St Austell Brewery.

The CeltiKup competition is a three-leg yacht race that begins in Lorient, before travelling to Douarnenez, then crossing the channel to Falmouth and returning to Lorient. Twenty-seven boats took part this year, and after facing choppy conditions around the Breton coast, the group were pleased to have a milder journey across to Cornwall. The party set sail back for France last Thursday.