The world’s magnificent Tall Ships will be showcased in Falmouth for the first time in nine years from August 15th – 18th. You can get into the Tall Ships spirit staying at Cornwall’s Budock Vean Hotel on the Helford River. Channel Daphne du Maurier’s historic pirate romance up-stream at Frenchman’s Creek. The hotel is offering guests into the spirit of the event with a guided Tall Ships walk, cocktails.
Parade of Sail
The Festival will see the largest Class A ships open to the public at Falmouth Docks from the Tuesday to Thursday afternoon. There will be a spectacular Parade of Sail on Friday 18th. Then the Class A B C & D ships will be surrounded by a flotilla of hundreds of local well-wishers. The fleet will head from Falmouth Harbour and across the Bay to the start of the Magellan Elcano race. Destination, Spain and Portugal.
The family run, luxury four star Budock Vean hotel has outstanding leisure facilities. These include its James Braid golf course, a spectacular indoor swimming pool with log fire. Adding to those are a sauna, outdoor hot tub, natural health spa, tennis courts and private foreshore. The award winning restaurant specialises in best Cornish produce. The hotel’s 65 acres of sub-tropical gardens runs down to the Helford River. These are set amid some of the most beautiful natural coastal and river scenery in the country.
Most impressive
“The Tall Ships Festival and race is one of the most impressive and fun events we see in Falmouth,” says hotel owner Martin Barlow. “We hope our guests will experience the packed programme of events in town, he adds. Concluding, “Then retreat to the peaceful luxury of our hotel in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We have some enlightening Tall Ships themes thrown in.”
Guests can follow Tuesday’s bustling festivities in Falmouth with the calm of a high tide gathering on the hotels’s private Helford River foreshore. Take a tot of rum or a Tall Ships Cocktail, organised with river partners Koru Kayaking.
Secret anchorage
The Koru team will also be running their guided Helford trips from the foreshore by riverboat, kayak or paddle-board to Daphne du Maurier’s Frenchman’s Creek. That’s the secret anchorage for one of the world’s most famous fictious tall ships, La Mouette. It is the scene of the novel’s most romantic trysts between Lady Dona St Columb and her pirate lover Jean-Benoit Aubery.
On Friday 18th, as the ships and their flotilla Parade across Falmouth Bay, join walking guide Steve Crummay of Explore In Cornwall. He will be taking a group from Budock Vean along the Helford’s north bank to Rosemullion Headland. He will point out the perfect view of the fleet as it turns towards the race start.
Daphne Du Maurier’s heroine Dona St Columb sat here on a Helford headland. She was looking out to sea for La Mouette. We can imagine how her heart soared as she saw that magnificent tall ship captained by her lover out in the Bay.
The group of walkers will get a wonderful view of the Tall Ships departing. As well as an insight into the romance, the history and geography, flora and fauna of the beautiful Helford River as they walk.”
Stay at the Budock Vean Hotel with rooms from £132 per person per night including breakfast.
picture credits Bren Fitzgerald