A spectacular week of sailing is expected as Falmouth gets ready to host the annual regatta in the Carrick Roads and Falmouth Bay, writes Andrew Laming.

Falmouth Week, from August 10-19, for the first time in many years welcomes back the dinghies to the main regatta week, so dinghy sailors can once again enjoy the shoreside fun, live music fireworks and the ever popular Red Arrows display, which this year takes place on the Tuesday of regatta week.

It all combines to make this an unmissable week for sailors of big and small boats alike, on and off the water. And spectacular viewing for spectators.

The racing action will be split between two sailing areas. Dinghies, working boats and the other smaller classes will race around marks in the Carrick Roads.

Classes to look out for here include the Flying Fifteens, Ajaxes, Cornish Shrimpers, Sunbeams and the graceful Falmouth Working Boats and Gaffers, plus the unique St Mawes One Designs and Dayboats.

The bigger yachts will head out into Falmouth Bay, racing between marks along the coast from Gyllyngvase and Maenporth, as far as the Helford River and the Lizard to the west.

Races are hosted each day by one of the local sailing clubs and yacht clubs, coordinated by the main organising authority, POFSA, the Port of Falmouth Sailing Association.

Daily prize givings and teas are hosted at each of the clubs, with live music and a warm welcome as well as a launch service to bring sailors to and from their boats.

The Bay Fleet comprises Firebird catamarans, IRC and YTC (South West Yacht Time Correction) yachts, Marieholm and YTC Cruising (No spinnaker) yachts.

The YTC cruising class is aimed at the less ultra-competitive and family crews. There will be both Regatta style ‘round-the-cans’ courses and windward-leeward racing for most classes, with two races a day except on Wednesday.

On the Wednesday, the largest number of racers are expected as the Bay Fleet compete in the longer format Ancasta Champagne race.

For some 60 years Falmouth Week has included a long coastal race on the Wednesday for offshore yachts, with prize bottles of champagne to remember a challenge that was settled on the water between two prominent local sailors with a case of Champagne back in 1951.

For sailors this year, the event kicks off for all classes with a skippers briefing on Saturday, August 11, and racing is from the Sunday to the following Saturday, August 18.

For dinghies, there is easy launching and recovery from a variety of sites around the two miles by one mile racing area of the Carrick Roads with racing open to dinghies with Portsmouth Yardsticks of 930 or less.

Last year 130 boats took part in the regatta, and with the return of dinghies further boosting numbers, there should be a huge amount to see and a great atmosphere in the historic port.

The presentation of overall series prizes will take place at Flushing Sailing Club on the Saturday evening, where a complimentary launch service will be available during the evening to take participants to Flushing Sailing Club from Falmouth, and back again.

Full details of racing for all classes are contained in the Notice of Race which can be downloaded here: https://bit.ly/2Iw0Nnp.

All racing documents and full details of how to enter are at the Falmouth Week website where there is also a full run down of the shore side entertainment.