by Chris and Lizzie Morgan
The yachtsmen behind one of Europe’s most prestigous races have chosen to sail over to visit their Cornish cousins this year.
Sailtica, the 500 mile contest that starts out from Pornichet in Southern Brittany will be crossing Biscay and the Channel to Fowey next month.
Often the organisers turn around at San Vicente in Northern Spain but this year they’ve chosen to visit their Cornish cousins.
It’s the first time the organisers of this bi-annual race have chosen Fowey and they’ve told us they chose to visit because they’re keen to cement their Celtic roots with the Cornish.
For the four days the 120 Breton sailors are in town (from 5th-9th May), the locals will be pulling out all the stops, (and hanging out the bunting) to make their visitors feel welcome.
They can learn to play Croquet, teach us to play Boules, take guided walks around the beautiful estuary, enjoy hog roasts, share sea shanties with the local sailors and Rum & Shrub Shantymen, and watch the spectacle of 32 Morris dancers dancing on the town quay.
The sailors are also being invited to join the Wednesday night racing aboard the local Fowey River boats and afterwards, share race night supper with the Fowey sailors.
There will be a spectacular start to the return leg of the race on Thursday, 9th May, at 1200.
Paul Thomas, the Fowey harbour master, will be closing the harbour to commercial traffic while the 20 yachts cross the RFYC in-harbour start line.
For more information, go to the Sailtica website HERE or contact Ken Wittamore (01726 832094) or Lizzie Morgan (01726 833918).
