Falmouth Work and Play
Running a busy harbour takes a lot of work. For the Harbour Master (HM) and his team, there are moorings to be overhauled, navigation marks to be maintained, pilotage to be organised, harbour dues to be collected, and a thousand other jobs to do.
But such a large area of water provides ample opportunities for recreation too. If it floats, and is propelled by sail, oar, or paddles, some people will love to race it against others of its kind! Other people will prefer cruising, whether pottering about the creeks or setting off up the coast, or across the Channel.
There's scope here for another website or two, so the pictures that follow give just a brief glimpse of the activity around Falmouth.
But such a large area of water provides ample opportunities for recreation too. If it floats, and is propelled by sail, oar, or paddles, some people will love to race it against others of its kind! Other people will prefer cruising, whether pottering about the creeks or setting off up the coast, or across the Channel.
There's scope here for another website or two, so the pictures that follow give just a brief glimpse of the activity around Falmouth.
After Queens Wharf in the docks was destroyed by fire in January 2003, charred baulks of timber floated around the harbour for years. These could be a hazard to small craft, so the HM's men had to remove them when found.
On the leisure side, there's plenty of sailing to be seen:
27.03.2006: But still the struggle to keep the harbour free of debis continues...
Cornish Pilot gigs evolved to take pilots out to incoming ships in the days of sail. The first gig to the ship got the job, so they were built to be seaworthy and fast. Some have covered large distances at sea, and in 2007 one even 'circumnavigated' Cornwall! This required an overland trailer push from the upper reaches of the Tamar to the Bude canal to link the passages around the coast.
There is an active class association, the Cornish Pilot Gig Association, which organises racing. There is normally a very large event held early each season on the Isles of Sciilly.
There is an active class association, the Cornish Pilot Gig Association, which organises racing. There is normally a very large event held early each season on the Isles of Sciilly.
24.10.2007: Schooner Adela
24.03.2005: This team from the National Maritime Museum Cornwall took it upon themselves to clean up floating litter in the harbour.
Finally, we combine the themes of work and play with a look at a couple of vessels that started
their lives in the fishing industry, but which now work in the leisure and heritage field.
their lives in the fishing industry, but which now work in the leisure and heritage field.
In their fishing days, both trawlers were pure sailing boats, but they would have carried a small steam donkey engine to assist with hoisting the heavy sails. The beam trawl was always shot and recovered on the port side.
Both Leader and Provident are operated by the Trinity Sailing Foundation, and their website gives details of the vessels and their history.
There's much, much more that could be said about Falmouth Harbour (the Tall Ships have been here many times) and its varied history, but now it's time to set off into Falmouth Bay and the Helford River...
Both Leader and Provident are operated by the Trinity Sailing Foundation, and their website gives details of the vessels and their history.
There's much, much more that could be said about Falmouth Harbour (the Tall Ships have been here many times) and its varied history, but now it's time to set off into Falmouth Bay and the Helford River...
Foot of 'Falmouth Work and Play' |