12th Boats in the bay – luggers

BOATS IN THE BAY 2017 marks the Jumbos 10th birthday.

St.Ives celebrates its maritime heritage this weekend with the twelfth annual ‘Boats in the Bay’ event on Saturday 2nd September. The event will also mark the 10th anniversary of the launch of the first Jumbo – the town’s very own class of fishing boat. The burgeoning local fleet of jumbos, sailing punts and picarooners together with visiting historic luggers will set sail around lunchtime to create a spectacle reminiscent of the heyday of sail, much-loved by the visiting Victorian artists.

‘Boats in the Bay’ began in 2006 to gauge public support for a scheme to revive the maritime heritage of St.Ives by establishing a racing class of these replica fishing luggers unique to the town, known as jumbos. By extraordinary good fortune, a sponsor came forward to fund the building of the first jumbo which was launched a year later at Boats in the Bay 2007 (see photo 1). Celeste, as she was named, was the first of her kind to be launched for well over 100 years.
It’s popularity ensured that ‘Boats in the Bay’ became an annual event which soon saw more luggers sailing in St.Ives Bay than at any time since WW1.

Meanwhile, the St.Ives Jumbo Association was formed which has raised funds to build a second jumbo and to run them and their punts.
Sailing the jumbos has proved to be an exciting means of engaging with the sea and one another whilst learning traditional know-how and developing a sense of pride in the town’s maritime past.

Twelve years on, Boats in the Bay still retains the spontaneity of the early events, running on sheer enthusiasm and the continuing support of local businesses. The Jumbo Association is now a charity with some 450 supporters and 6 traditionally-built boats based in St.Ives.

Weather permitting, there will be a pan-Celtic theme to this years event. Organisers hope that Barnabas, SS 634, (built in St.Ives on Porthgwidden Beach in 1881 (see photo 2) will be joined by the Manx lugger Gladys and the Breton crew aboard Loch Fyne skiff The Rose of Argyll (now registered in Douarnenez, Brittany).

These larger decked luggers sailing from Newlyn are expected to arrive around 3pm on Friday 1st September. A flotilla of locally-based, traditionally-rigged boats lead by the jumbos, will make their way westward to meet them. Members of the St.Ives Jumbo Association will provide a fish BBQ reception for the crews and participants (courtesy of Matthew Stevens and Sons) at the Rose Lodge.

SCULLY RACING
On Saturday at around 3.30pm there’ll be a Grand Scully Race from the foreshore in front of the Sloop Inn.
This is a relay-race between two identical St.Ives punts propelled by a single oar over the stern which was introduced at St.Ives by the Jumbo Association.
There’s something quite comic about the technique of scullying when racing. The solemn skill and extreme exertion required to achieve simple objectives combined with the frantic hilarity of the event soon has all hands wildly cheering. This is spectator sport at it’s best and a new use for the traditional punts which otherwise serve as tenders for the jumbos.
In recent years this form of scully racing has become the highlight of Mousehole’s ‘Sea, Salts and Sail Festival’ where, last year, it was won resoundingly by the Breton crew of The Rose of Argyll. On that occasion, the Breton crew of six, which included two girls, took two turns each to trounce the home team of twelve! (see photo 3)

Saturday’s race is open to any competent scullier. Please call Jonny Nance (07866 777219) if you wish to take part.

Teas and coffee will be available at Rose Lodge throughout the day on Saturday.
Finally, around 5pm, the Cadgwith Singers will be joined by the Bamaluz Bootleggers and crews for ‘a shout’ outside the Sloop Inn.

The luggers will be sailing throughout Saturday afternoon, with both jumbos busy getting as many of their members afloat as possible – anyone wishing to participate should make themselves known to the Jumbo Association stall on the plat next to the Old Slipway.

www.stivesjumbo.com