Seventy classic yachts and motor cruisers will be converging on the port on 12th June in readiness for the 38th The Falmouth Classics Regatta which takes place from 13 -15 June. The 2025 event is attracting vessels from ports and harbours north to the River Blackwater in Essex and from Germany, the Netherlands and France. The visiting fleet of luggers, gaff and Bermudan rigged vessels, a square rigger, four Royal Navy Archer Class P2000 Patrol vessels and other powered craft will be arriving in the port from 11.00 ready to join local craft in the racing and parades over the following three days. Visting vessels will be berthed on Falmouth Haven, on moorings or in Port Pendennis Marina.

To be eligible vessels have to have been designed and built on or before 1975. However, more recently built boats can participate if they were built traditionally, to a pre-1975 design or have a gaff or lug rig. The oldest boat entered is Barnabas built in 1881 and the only remaining St Ives lugger and the most recent a traditionally constructed and rigged open boat from the East Coast built in 2024.

During the two race days the Carrick Roads will be filled with the sails of around one hundred craft. Competition in the over 40’ Bermudan Class promises to be very competitive this year with several new entrants. The parade of sail with the participation of the Dutch Brig, Morgenster, should really be something to watch on Sunday morning when there will be well over a hundred vessels following the course around the Carrick Roads and passing by the invited guests on board MV Moyana, provided by Fal River. Guests will be invited to decide on the parade prize winners.

To encourage competition for those racing there will be great prizes provided by the Hull based paint manufacturer Teamac, who will be sponsoring the Saturday race, Mustos and Noble Masts. Parade participants will be competing for bottles of Polgoon Wine. All class and parade winners will also be presented with Cornish tea from the Tregothnan estate. The 500 skippers and crew will enjoy receptions ashore, the opportunities provided by the town and of course the International Shanty Festival.

What’s On?

Thursday 12th June

Around seventy boats arrive to be berthed in Falmouth Haven, Port Pendennis Marina, on moorings or at anchor.

Friday 13th June

Race 1 – the first start in the Carrick Roads will take place at 11.30.
Race 2 the first start will be at 14.00. The larger vessels, dependent on wind strength are likely to have a course that takes them out into Falmouth Bay for both races.

Maritime Village

Opens on Custom House Quay at 10.00 and will run to 17.00 on Sunday. Speak to the Royal Navy, buy a boat, purchase marine related crafts and clothing, materials for traditional boat maintenance, learn about the marine environment and try out some of
the food stalls.

Saturday 14th June

The Teamac sponsored Race for all 13 classes will have the first start at 11.30
Public on the Pontoon – members of the public will be able to get up close to the boats on Falmouth Haven from 09.00 – 10.30 and again from 16.00 – 18.00. Entry at the bottom of Quay Street is free but donations to the RNLI will be welcome.

Rowing and Sculling competition

16.00 – 18.00 for all comers at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club – entry if free. Bring your own boat or borrow one kindly provided by the Falmouth training ship Hardiesse.

Sunday 16th June

Parade of Sail and Power – boats will gather off Trefusis Point and following the Pendennis gun will, at 10.30, sail south led by the four Royal Navy Archer Class P2000 Patrol vessels
and the two Falmouth lifeboats. Sailing craft will be led by Morgenster, the 1919 Dutch brig. The fleet will turn just to the south of Black Rock and sail north along the St Mawes shore. If there is strong swell the parade will turn north before Black Rock. Watchers on Pendennis Point will also be entertained by the shanty band “Short Drag Roger”.

Heather and Lay Small Boat Parade in the Inner Harbour

This will begin at 13.30 and the fleet will include the National Maritime Museum’s steam boat Emma. There will be a commentary from Custom House Quay. Good places to view are from Custom House Quay and North Quay.

Vessels to look out for:

Barnabas - built in 1881 and the oldest entry for this year’s Falmouth Classic Regatta , she was built as a Class 2 Pilchard boat and worked out of St Ives. The last remaining vessel in a fleet of over a 1000. She was awarded the Gstadd Yacht Club’s Centenarian of the Year at the Classic Boat Awards 2025 and also chosen as the National Historic Ships’ sailing flagship of the year. She has a black hull and tan sails.

Ellen – built in 1882 she is a Gorran Haven Crabber. By 1900 the fishery was overcrowded and she was moved to Flushing. Now part of the Cornish Maritime Trust’s fleet with big brother Barnabas. Sprit main and mizzen, tan sails and cream hull.

Velsia – built by Colin Archer in Norway in 1890 along the lines of his sailing lifeboats but built to race. Grey hull and gaff cutter rig. Bojar – a sleek Bermudan cutter built by Anker and Jansen in Oslo in 1837. She was brought to the UK in 2010.

Morgenster – a Dutch Brig built in 1919 to fish in the North Sea now used for sail training.

Chasseur – A Fairey Huntsman motor cruiser built in 1966. Blue top sides and red band Teuk – an open boat built traditionally in 2024 on the lines of a West Mersey tender for the
Essex smacks. The most recently built boat in the event. White clinker hull with grey band and single tan sail.

  Find out more here