Sunday's sunny Sea Salt Sail

There's some old hands for whom this sight would have been the norm when they were knee high to a lobster pot........

a fleet of luggers now at anchor between St Clement's Isle and the harbour after a day of hard sailing around the Bay.......

now provide the crowds at Mousehole with worthy spectacle.....

as the Ripple makes her way between two boats at anchor......

closely followed by the little Breton.........

hard on her heels......

some sort of Masonic outfit? no, its a local Bluegrass band in their new guise.......

the humble herring attracts interest.......

with Mike Smylie heading up the head of the 40+ foot boat association..........

the lonely gaff rigger......

amongst a sea of lug rigs.......

captured in oils by Bernard Evans........

one of the few fish on display......

and where were the edible ones!!!!......

still celebrating the Jubilee......

the Ripple heads back to Newlyn past the cliffside allotments.......

time to stop for a beer in the Fisherman's Arms........

admire the most unique pub ceiling in the UK ........

these days there are ever increasing opportunities to sample the fish that is landed locally......

especially at the Smugglers Restaurant which has a menu furnished with local produce and a limited number of en-suite rooms for the visitor - and a great view over the bay........

there's not much greener than Newlyn Green.

Soggy Saturday Sea Salt Sail

Despite living here since 1978 discovered this cafe with a view right across the Bay in Mousehole - you find it!........

the stage is set.........

they get everywhere, even Mousehole.......

keeping an eye on things is The Harbourmaster, seen here looking for his hat.......

the harbour is a great place for any watercraft.....

though this weekend the Peel Castle is star of the show.......

there's the entire Mousehole fleet.......

swelled today by the visiting working boats.......

topside view of the Peel Castle......

and from the stern......

well gone high water.......

the village is steeped in history having been sacked by the Spanish many moons ago, here's a wooden lintel with the ships name on it.......

along with the decoration.........

the old barking house has curved walls to allow the carts to enter and leave through the other side......

the power base of the village........

there's some old characters in the harbour office......

and evidence of some quieter days......

the village clock is a masterpiece of Victorian engineering......

though not local.......

the pendulum is some 8 foot long......

ever watchful harbourmaster has a busy weekend ahead......

his office has some unusual features.......

all set.......

first few mini-pots roll of the production line......

view of the boats on the West quay......

include the Barnabus.......

on the other quay......

plenty of wind to give the boats a good push.......

the Grace is bound for Brest and Douarnenez next week.......

looks like rain skipper!........

the Kipperman, Mike Smylie is smoking here again.......

a working boat deck with her original fishroom hatch intact......

plenty of working artists in the village.....

Capn'n Keast sings for his supper, its the penny whistle these days as the squeeze box was giving his back some gyp!

Mousehole Sea, salts and sail underway!

Day one of Mousehole Sea, Salt and Sail festival starts today - music this evening from Jonah's Lift get things off to a dramatic start.


Apart from a great collection of local and visiting boats jammed in the iconic harbour including the ex-fishing boat Peel Castle which fished for many years from Newlyn and Brixham there's chain locker's worth of sights, sounds and smells to soak up.


Cookery Demonstrations:  A favourite, generating a lot of interest and this year we are welcoming back local chefs from the popular restaurants in Mousehole to come along and demonstrate their skills in cooking various fish dishes, which can be sampled at a small charge.


Crab Pot Making:   This year we will be demonstrating the art of making crab pots in the old traditional way with willow (withies).


Photographic Display:  Photographs and memorabilia of Mousehole from 1800’s to present day are on display at the Sunday School. Over the years various members of the committee have managed to collect a selection of photographs. New this year, are pictures of some of our local characters (past & present) so don’t miss this part of the festival.


Smoked Fish:  Kipperman Mike Smylie is a Maritime Historian. He trained as a Naval Architect and owned several fishing vessels of various types. Mike has had an interest in fishy matters for many years and has become a regular exhibitor at the Festival. He has written a number of books on boats and fishing and had numerous articles published in Classic Boat, Watercraft and other Maritime magazines. The festival would not be complete without his “smiley” face and the smell of smoking kippers from his special 'smokehouse'


Falmouth Marine School:   They will be showcasing three models they have built as part of a European Project - which has made an Association of Wooden Boat Builders (WOOBTA). It has involved them visiting partners in Spain, France and Sweden. It will be the first time the 3 – Galician, Breton and Swedish models will be on public display. Visitors will also be able to try their hand at hand tool skills


Live Music:


Already booked are: Jonah’s Lift Fortuity Quartet Flats & Sharps The Shed Pig's Ears The Odd Folk Sandy Acre Seven Mousehole Male Voice Choir Redruth Amateur Operatic Society Camborne Youth Band Cadgwith Singers