One of the largest heritage and classic sailing events in the UK, the Falmouth Classics is set to take place next weekend. Between Friday June 11 and Sunday June 13 over 120 vessels the oldest dating from 1881, will be racing and parading in the Carrick Roads.

Falmouth harbour will gradually fill with boats on Thursday, June 10 from 11:00 as the 70 or more visiting craft arrive to moor alongside in Falmouth Haven, on swinging moorings or anchor. By late afternoon the scene will be reminiscent of Falmouth’s maritime past.

Falmouth Classics 2019. Picture: Doug Jackson

Falmouth Classics 2019. Picture: Doug Jackson

The headline sponsors this year are the Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, established in 1870 by Falmouth Town Council to manage the port. The event this year is well supported by local and national sponsors and advertisers most of whom committed to supporting the cancelled 2020 event and generously transferred their support to 2021, for which the volunteer organising team are hugely grateful.

The parade of sail and power on Sunday 13 June is rather special this year as it will include a flotilla to mark the 150th anniversary of the Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (FHC). The flotilla will include current FHC craft and one of the pilot boats (either Arrow or LK Mitchell) and eight sailing boats and a gig.

The latter group will seek to reflect Falmouth’s maritime history and illustrate some of the boats that would have been afloat in the early days of the Harbour Commissioners. This group will include three pilot cutters, two Falmouth Working boats, a Falmouth Quay Punt, a gig, a fishing lugger and a gentleman’s yacht built in Falmouth in 1910.

Changes have had to be made to the format owing to the pandemic, however, it has encouraged some creativity around the shore side receptions. Every effort is being made to keep volunteers and crews safe and healthy. So, no large gathering ashore this year!

The briefing will be virtual and the Sunday prizegiving will be outdoors and restricted to trophy winners only. Owing to the G7, a team representative has been working with the Devon and Cornwall Police and others to ensure the Classics programme is not limited by the increased level of security in and around the Harbour.