Areas

The Areas are where the sailing is! Please see below for links to the areas and other places to help you make the most of your Shrimper.

 

falmouth

 

When planning the programme for the 100-plus members of the Falmouth SOA, we bear in mind that Shrimpers seem to attract a variety of owners in our area … many owners will be holidaymakers to Cornwall, with perhaps a holiday cottage, but certainly with a limited time in Cornwall and some may not want to be organised for family reasons. Others may live locally and sailing is one of their leisure activities. The typical age of owners will probably be in their 40’s and upwards, but children are made most welcome. Few seem to be prepared to sleep aboard when a comfortable bed and shower is so close to home! (However they don’t know what they are missing, Shrimpers ‘raft-up’ so easily, communal catering can be great fun and a great way to make new friends).

We think our programme caters both for keen sailors wanting one design racing to those who are looking for easy cruising in company to enjoy the beautiful creeks and coastline.

We are a social and friendly lot – organise a BBQ and we can get 70 to 80 people, but this is not always reflected in the numbers joining in the sailing events. Perhaps this doesn’t matter, but it’s always good to see more people joining in. Let us know if there is anything you would like to see in the programme. If you are a non-racer you are welcome to attend any social event after racing.

latest news

2008 Information is now available so click on one of the following: The 2008 Calendar , the February 2008 Newsletter

The 2007 October newsletter is still available, more..

The 2007 February newsletter is now available, more..

The 2006 October newsletter is now available, more..

AGM

Minutes have now been sent out.

racing and village regattas

Racing

Both the St Mawes and Mylor clubs have Shrimper class starts and remember, you only need to be a member of one of the seven POFSA clubs to join in the racing.

Mylor YC organise a series of 11 Friday evening races through the season .

St Mawes SC offer a series of Pursuit races in May and October (where the slowest boat starts first and other classes play catch-up), and Shrimper class racing on Sunday morning and Thursday evening between June and September.

Village Regattas

The format of all the village regattas is similar – afternoon start, relaxed racing, teas afterwards and a big welcome. Most are timed to coincide with high tide to ensure trouble free racing and plenty of water to moor in afterwards. All regattas provide late entry boats on the water, which take your entry and give out the sailing instructions, so no forms to fill in before (unless you want to!), and courtesy boats afterwards to ferry you ashore for the all-important tea and prizes. Shrimpers usually have their own start. The courses, which are usually 2 rounds, are from the local starting line, out into the Carrick Roads, back around a turning mark for the second round and then back to the starting area/line for the finish. The regattas are a good opportunity to sail in beautiful creeks that you may not sail in regularly.

cruising and creek crawls

Throughout the season we arrange a series of day sails, creek crawls and overnight trips.

DAY SAILS - aim to explore new destinations for some such as Coverack, Portscatho, Towan Beach, Tremayne Quay on the Helford River, Gillan Creek, Bream Cove off Rosemullion Head or Porthallow.

CREEK CRAWLS – There are a number of creeks off the Fal Estuary which are ideal for the shallow draft of the Shrimper. Often there is little wind and we have to motor or just drift with the tide and enjoy the peaceful surroundings at their best, often followed by rafting-up for drinks or supper on board. Last season we enjoyed sailing up the Percuil River to Trethem, to Ruan Lanihorne up the Fal River and up Restronguet Creek, anchoring at the Devoran end and then taking the dinghies up to the Norway Inn – very exploratory!!

OVERNIGHT TRIPS – the favourite trips from Falmouth are to Fowey, an opportunity to explore the coast and river in that area or to Port Navas, overnight at this charming creek drying out on the pontoon at the sailing club where meals are available.

fowey

Fowey Regatta 2005 and other events

The main regatta races were held on the Tuesday to Thursday with passage races to and from Falmouth on the Sunday and Monday and the ‘Lloyds Bank’ Race on the Friday. This year Colin Campbell (Camilla, 767) and Clive Woodman (Freya, 886) sailed to Fowey after doing the Falmouth Week and joined the local Shrimper fleet in Fowey for the regatta. The local fleet has now grown to about a dozen active boats most of whom sailed at some time during the week.

New owner James Beckly (Henrietta, 262) and Fowey fleet co-ordinator Antonie Mouthaan (The Duchy, 873) were up for doing the full regatta and did the passage race to Falmouth finishing with the fleet in 3.5 hours, a very fast passage in fresh conditions. Unfortunately the wind had dropped for the return race, but Clive Woodman was first to the Helford Buoy on the route back, with the others opting to sail the direct route. The light winds continued into Tuesday causing racing to be cancelled. However Wednesday saw a record turnout of 10 Shrimpers, but again with light winds the tide proved too strong to complete the course. Clive Woodman won Thursday’s race, again in very light conditions, but by Friday the wind had returned and James Beckly and Antonie Mouthaan enjoyed a 4.5 hour Lloyds Bank race in St Austell Bay, with James winning.

Other Fowey River Shrimper events this season have included three Shrimper Class Races (specially arranged by the Port of Fowey Race Organising Committee to stimulate Shrimper racing), a beach lunch (Pridmouth) and river outings to Lostwithiel and Lerryn (both with supper).