Warm welcome awaits visiting yachtsmen to Suhaili 50 Falmouth Parade of Sail
by Golden Globe Race 15 Jan 2018 18:36 GMT
14 June 2018
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston returning to Falmouth aboard Suhaili to become the first person to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation © Bill Rowntree / PPL
Falmouth looks set to host one of the biggest sailing jamborees in June, marking the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's departure at the start of the 1968/9 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race.
Sailing clubs in France, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands are planning to join other groups from Ireland, the UK south coast and Bristol Channel to make the pilgrimage to Falmouth to salute the Suhaili skipper and his yacht in a parade of sail around Falmouth Harbour on Thursday June 14.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston set out from Falmouth on 14th June 1968 and was the sole finisher in the Sunday Times race. In doing so, he became the first man to sail solo non-stop around the Globe – a feat that remains one of the most significant sailing achievements during the past Century.
In this salute to solo sailing, Suhaili will be joined by other classic Globe girdling yachts, including Frenchman Bernhard Moitessier's famous Joshua, Sir Francis Chichester's Gipsy Moth IV and Sir Alec Rose's Lively Lady, together with the entire fleet of 2018 Golden Globe Race yachts.
The Suhaili 50 Falmouth Parade of Sail is the climax to a week of celebrations commencing over the weekend 9/10th June. Organised by Falmouth Town Team and the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club where Sir Robin stepped ashore on his return half a century ago, the busy programme includes a reception at St Mawes Sailing Club on 12th and a commemorative dinner for Sir Robin hosted by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club on Wednesday 13th June, together with a firework display.
The Parade of Sail takes place on Thursday 14th June, and will pass close to Trefusis Point, Pendennis Point, St Mawes Castle and Carricknath Point, to provide the public and those afloat in Carrick Roads a clear view. In the afternoon, the Golden Globe Race fleet will start from a line off Pendennis Castle marked by Suhaili at one end and Joshua the other, in the SITRaN Challenge charity race to Les Sables d'Olonne, France as a warm-up to the 50th anniversary Golden Globe Race which will commence from there on Sunday 1st July 2018.
Falmouth Harbour and the Helford River offer one of the most picturesque cruising grounds in the British Isles, and with Falmouth Classics Regatta starting a week later on Friday 22nd June, the Suhaili festivities are part of a much wider attraction to visit this region of Cornwall.
Capt Mark Sansom, the Falmouth Harbour Master, promises a warm welcome to all, saying: "There is significant capacity for visiting vessels within the Estuary and at facilities in Falmouth, Penryn, St Mawes, Mylor and Truro. Capacity is not infinite, but we have accommodated large numbers of visitors in the Harbour during past Tall Ship events. There is a good supply of visitors moorings and alongside berths available, together with a large anchorage in Falmouth inner harbour. If necessary, we can recommend further anchorage areas, taking account of the prevailing conditions at the time."
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