Royal Cornwall Yacht Club has busy year planned

A busy programme of sailing events is planned in Falmouth this year. Organised by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and the Port of Falmouth Sailing Association, which is a Combined Clubs organisation for the area, several major events will take place in the perfect sailing environment that Falmouth offers. The calendar includes:

The Prince of Wales Cup for International 14's 27th July-3rd August

The Prince of Wales Cup Races will be held this year under the burgee of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club in Falmouth, Cornwall from the 27th July to the 3rd of August. The Royal Cornwall and Falmouth has an interesting history of involvement with the class. At the Prince of Wales Cup Races in Falmouth in 1938 two young men, Peter Scott and John Winter with their new boat 'Thunder and Lightning' created the trapeze by using a harness to hang outside of the rails.. Developed from an idea by America's Cup sailor Beecher Moore, the trapeze was banned for being unfair to the other competitors. Ironically, Scott was called on to write the rules banning the device. He later went on to be skipper of the British America's Cup Challenger 'Sovereign' in 1964. Many people of course remember him for his bird paintings, mostly from the Slimbridge Wildfowl Centre near Gloucester, which he founded in 1946. It was not until 1970 that the rule was rescinded and the trapeze re-appeared again in Falmouth during that year's competition, which was won by Jeremy Pudney and Peter Brazier.

This year, there will be the opportunity for the 100 plus competitors to see that famous 1938 International 14, sail number K409 "Thunder and Lightning", designed by Uffa Fox at the new National Maritime Museum Cornwall due to be opened in Falmouth in June this year.

Other events of note this in Falmouth this year include the FIREFIGHTERS' EUROPEAN CHALLENGE - FALMOUTH 2002. 11th - 14thJune

This is an international sailing championship comprising of fire fighters from over six major European countries competing in racing/cruiser yachts.

OPENING of the NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM CORNWALL - 22nd June Cornwall's latest attraction on the waterfront in Falmouth This £27m project will house the National Matritime Museum's Small Boat collection of over boats

A class very closely associated with the RCYC is the J24's, This year, the J24 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS will be raced from the 30th June - 5th July

One of the most successful One-Design yachts, the J24 is competitively raced all over the world, and this year's National championships will be settled in Falmouth Bay. It is expected there will be an entry of over 50 boats, including a strong local contingent, entertaining over 300 sailors both afloat and ashore.

One of the country's most important Classics gatherings is the FALMOUTH CLASSICS REGATTA from the 9th - 11th August Very few areas of Britain have so many classic boats of all sizes sailed regularly as Falmouth which is a great host port for these events. The 14th Annual Regatta for traditional boats ranging from 6ft - 60ft and comprising of over 200 craft, is a weekend enjoyed by the whole community.

FALMOUTH REGATTA WEEK - 11th - 17th August is the highlight of the annual sailing calendar in Falmouth and a major contribution to Falmouth's social season. Seven days of racing for over 23 classes of boat organised by the Port of Falmouth Sailing Association, to be enjoyed by the whole community.

And towards the end of the season, a glorious regatta dating back to the 1920's with the SUNBEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS, 6th - 8th September

The Falmouth Sunbeams, boasting a current fleet of in excess of 15 yachts, will be racing for their annual championships to find this year's top boat. Dating back to the 1920's when they first appeared on the racing scene in the port, these graceful dayboats from a bygone era still provide very competitive sailing and a beautiful spectacle. Organised by the Sunbeam Class Association and RCYC

All sailing visitors to the port are most welcome to visit the The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club which is overlooking the Harbour at Greenbank. The Club was founded in 1871 and has a long tradition of top class racing. There is always a welcome for entrants and visitors to the club, which has the present Prince of Wales as its Patron.