MYLOR MAGIC
It is very easy to write about a subject you enjoy, as the words tend to flow quiet easily if the topic is of interest. Sailing in Falmouth is very special as the sailing waters are exceptional with little commercial traffic and thanks to the efforts of South West Water and their long suffering bill payers fairly clean.
You could say however that clean water and good sailing waters can be found else where in the UK and I would be forced to agree but add in interesting local sailing fleets, shipyards of all shapes and sizes and a geographical location that continues to bring a vast array of visitors and you have a unique mix unrivalled anywhere in the world.
Last Wednesday it was the turn of the Working Boat fleet to take centre stage with the Silver Oyster Race to celebrate an historic legal victory for the oystermen over the Fishery regulators in 1901.
Mylor Yacht Club was the venue for the 31st SOR and it was a very special event as always a gathering of friends both old and new and a chance to forget “credit crunches” and poor fishing returns and savour friendship and camaraderie in a glorious waterside location overlooking the oyster fishery.
As luck would have it the weather was sunny and cold with a northerly force 3-4 in attendance giving the combined fleets of licensed and unlicensed working boats a delightful sail across the oyster beds to Messack, St Just and back to Mylor.
After a couple of turns around the course the fleets adjourned ashore for a pasty and a pint at the Clubhouse. New Chairman of POFSA Steve Nicholls was the Race Officer and Master of Ceremonies ashore and Sue Treneer presented the trophies.
In Class C for unlicensed boats Sapphire (Chris Simmonds) finished 1st with Muriel (Steve Miles) in 2nd place whilst in B Class Moon (Pat Selman) took the gun from Irene (Robert Northey) and Agnes (Robin Snelson).
In the Licensed fleets Dolly (Barry Prynn) won C Class from Girl Sarah (Adam Davies/Timmie Bailey) and in B Class the Silver Oyster went to Chris Ranger on board Alf Smythers from Ian Shield and the Molly.
Molly in fact had taken the gun but Ian confessed to as yet not having commenced dredging so retired and surrendered the beautiful Silver Oyster trophy to the Alf Smythers crew.
All in all a brilliant event organized by Mylor Yacht Club, which demonstrates all the strengths that sailing has to offer in Falmouth and no doubt Steve Nicholls will as the new chairman of POFSA seek to reaffirm in Falmouth Week 2009.
Events like the SOR make our regattas so different to the average fare on offer around the country. Falmouth Week should not mirror other events but celebrate what makes it different - every day a new Sailing Club and a new start line offering the best estuary sailing anywhere in the UK.
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