A big banner welcome to Mousehole's bi-annual Sea, Salts & Sail Festival...
with over 50 classic sailing boats assembled in and outside the historic harbour...
some rafted up enjoying an afternoon flat calm in the sunshine...
with thousands making the most of the fine weather, soaking up the party atmosphere and enjoying fone food, good music and all the spectacle these boats offer and enough to get the ITV News team down to record the event...
the harbour's new pontoon berth makes access and boarding much easier for the smaller boats...
Gleaner, the biggest and oldest visitor was built in Kitto's yard in 1874, Porthleven as a Lowestoft drifter...
and turned out to be the subject of choice for the Cornwall Plein Air painters group, many of whom chose to make the boat the focus of their July paint-out as they captured the stunning scenes to be had...
the 1884 Barnabas hoists her lug in readiness...
to join in Sunday's Parade of Sail...
along with the historic Maggie Helen which left Inverness some two weeks ago and only just made it to the festival owing to lack of wind at times!..
one local punt fisherman couldn't resist the opportunity and took time out from days at sea to mingle with the fleet...
in particular getting the chance to get close up with one of the most famous luggers still sailing, the engineless Guide Me, she' continues to have a hugely successful racing career, and not many 1911 Cornish luggers have sailed across the Atlantic to do so!..
the fleet passed between the harbour and St Clement's Isle...
in all directions...
and with relatively light airs all were able to hoist a full set of sails...
like the local Barnabas...
which just added to the spectacle...
on display in Mousehole's Rowing Clubhouse where, (under the direction of Sylvia and Leon Pezzack who founded the festival back in 1996) was 'Time less Traditions', an original painting donated by artist Vicky Norman created especially to help raise funds for the event...
who took to the stage to give potential bidders some context to her fitting tribute to the boats captured in action on the water and so evocative of times gone by...
then it was up to local lad Len Maiden to get the best possible auction price which eventually went for a worthy £3,200...
while the crews were busy getting back into the harbour for the prize giving and general end-of-festival celebrations...
no doubt sculptor Jean Luc...
who, with his photographer friend, sailed the smallest boats to attend this year's festival across from Aber Wrac'h in Brittany after reading about the festival online just a few days before!..
time to walk away...
and say, "See you next time"!
