After a scesful first event in June 2025, this is becoming established as a boat show in the SW.

Based at Plymouth Yacht haven near Mountbatten Pier, there may be opportunities for berthing as well as visiting by land, or even exhibiting.

For more information and, in due course, tickets: 

visit https://www.yachthavens.com/plymouth-yacht-haven/plymouth-boat-fest

ThIs year the, now four event, West Country Classics series kicks off in Falmouth.   Based from Falmouth Haven and the Pendennis marinas.  Arrive on the Thursday, for two days of class racing and then a Parade of Sail on the Sunday. Coincides with the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival

For more details:    https://www.falmouthclassics.org.uk/   or: email:  info@falmouthclassics.org.uk

The SW Gaffers Fitting Out Lunch will be on Saturday 18th April at Brixham Yacht Club.

Have a break form antifouling and enjoy the spectacular views over Lyme Bay, the good beer and an exxcllent lunch.  We will meet at around 12:00 for lunch at 13:00.  Two courses, to include the famous Brixham Fish Pie, for £25.00 per person, to include a staff gratuity.  This will be followed, at 14:30, by an illustrated talk by Carolyn Brown, a member of the Pilgrim Trust , and former reader of the BBC Shipping Forecast!

There is plenty of additional, but payable, parking if you drive further past the Yacht Club, allow for more than four hours, to explore the town, before or aftter!

Registration and menu choices:       Are in the links below These should be returned by email before Thursday 9th April to:

David Patuck SW Secretary  swsec@oga.org.uk

This is now confirmed for Wednesday February 18th 2026 at The Rock Inn, Yelverton, Devon. PL20 6DS (tel: 01882 852022)

From 12:00 with lunch at 13:00 Please see below for details and information to attend.

Note the date!  See Solent Area event pages for further information

Solent Area Gaffers will be in our Area for an afternoon and evening event.  They are proposing a lunchtime get together  with any SW Gaffers in the Dartmouth Area.

More detailsto follow nearer the time.  Grant Morris solsec@oga.org.uk or swsec@oga.org

Many gaffers from the SW and further afield join in this event on the picturesque upper reaches of the River Dart

SW Gaffers no longer hold a Rally to coincide with this event but smaller boats wishing to take part can still do so, and SW member, Gil Hayward, wearsailing@hotmail.com who lives locally, is the person to contact to liaise with Dittisham SC.

The "John Wyn" Trophy is still up for grabs for the first gaff rigged boat!

A link to an updated for 2026 PDF of an entry form for return to Gil, may be available below, nearer the time:

Looe Luggers is a well established event for locally built boats and luggers.  in 2025 it is expanding to include traditionally rigged boats of any construction, including GRP.  It will be the third in the now four events in he West Country Classics series.

Our own Plymouth Rally and Annual race will now take place the week before, so as to lead straight into this event, which, it's self preceeds Fowey Classics.  The picture is of a magnificant French lugger at Brixham! (photo David Patuck).

Three days of festivities ashore, as well as sailing afloat, are promised at this traditional seaside town.

June 7th: I have attached the invite and entry form that those who expresssed interest will have received, and any other potential participants can use, below:

To further whet your appetite, this is a recent press release (April 25) regarding this new expanded event:

LOOE’s Lugger Regatta returns this July – and it promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

After the Covid-enforced hiatus, the 2023 reunion of famous old fishing boats attracted a slightly disappointing entry, partly because the most suitable tides were in May and that proved too early in the sailing season for many of the likely participants.

New lugger chairman David Darlington and his vice-chairman Jonathan Brice, who used to be secretary in the Looe-based Cornish Lugger Association’s early years, knew something had to change, especially since at least eight of the traditional lug-rigged fishing boats have been ‘lost’ (either retired or scraped) in the past decade.

Clearly without action the very future of the regatta was in doubt, since many of the remaining boats, several of them built in Looe, are now more than 100 years ago and the cost of their upkeep continues to rise year-on-year.

Armed with that disheartening situation, the new lugger committee has embarked on something of an event re-brand but it will still focus heavily on the old fishing boats whose town regattas can be traced back to 1911.

This year’s event, over the July 25-27 weekend, has been re-titled the Looe Lugger Classics with the entry no longer restricted to Cornish luggers. Those remaining grand old ladies of the sea will continue to take centre-stage, of course. 

Their owners, skippers and crews fondly remember the days when huge fleets of sailing luggers – the wooden-built fishing boats take their name from their distinctive rig of lug sails which are peculiar to Cornish, Brittany, Isle of Man and Scottish fishing fleets – fished off the Cornish coast, working long lines, deep out in the English Channel, for conger, ray, turbot and the like, or shooting miles of drift nets to catch pilchards, once the mainstay of the country’s fishing industry.

But this year the lugger numbers will be buoyed by a varied fleet of other sailing boats, all of which also embrace the spirit of tradition.

Looe’s re-invigorated heritage reunion – which will also include the Made-in-Looe Regatta, championing the port’s rich boatbuilding history – will feature a series of events in the bay and on the river over the Saturday and Sunday, and will welcome modern replicas and old gaffers as well as the luggers.

The weekend will be followed by a ‘Rest Day’ in harbour on the Monday (July 28) after which the fleet will have an opportunity to feed into Fowey Classics rally on the Tuesday. 

Moorings and facilities have again been provided by the Looe Harbour Commissioners, whose continued generosity allows the regatta to thrive in the beautiful environs of the Cornish fishing port and holiday resort.

Plans for this year’s Lugger Classics are evolving and include an event village on West Looe Quay, with live music on two stages over three nights featuring sea shanties, rock bands, choirs and acoustic troubadours.

A licensed bar, barbecue and other food outlets will be available and quayside attractions include talks on heritage maritime topics, with pictorial exhibits; an artist in residence; crab-pot and oar making demonstrations, and a model boat display. 

For the first time this year, the regatta will also be part of the West Country Classics Series, incorporating similar summer events in  Dartmouth, Falmouth and Fowey.

Following on from last year's success, we are going to be based at Mayflower Marina again. To avoid clashing with the new Looe Luggers & Classics event, the Annual Race will be held on the Wednesday 23rd July, in Plymouth Sound. This enables participants to attend Looe at the weekend and move on to Fowey Classics for Tuesday 26th.  Alongside berthing, if booked, for the Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday nights, will, once again be subsidised, including for smaller boats, once launched. There may be parking available at the Marina.  Martin and Jan have made arrangements for the main dinner and prizegiving for Jolly Jack's on the Wednesday.  Individual crews can book for other evening's seperately.  On the Thursday there will be non sailing expedition, ferry trip, from the Mayflower to Mount Edgecombe, in Cornwall, for afternoon tea in the orangery, probably preceeded by lunch at the pub. A welcome respite between gaffering events!

Entry forms are still available below and a copy of the MailChimp invite, already circulated, will be added in a few days

More details from:  David Patuck or Martin Elliot 

The second this year of the West Country Classics series.  Based from Falmouth Haven and the Pendennis marinas.  Arrive on the Thursday, for two days of class racing and then a Parade of Sail on the Sunday. Coincides with the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival

For more details:    https://www.falmouthclassics.org.uk/   or: email:  info@falmouthclassics.org.uk

The French OGA are holding a three day event in the walled city of St Malo and have invited Gaffers from the UK to join in.

Ben Collins and Grant Morris from the Solent Area are hoping that smaller OGA boats might cross by ferry (Brittany Ferries form Portsmouth or Plymouth). Larger gaffers from the Solent Area and East coast will be cruising in company towards Cherbourg, Alderney, Guernsey and St. Helier. Seven South West Gaffers boats are now booked and are hoping to join other OGA boats, perhaps after the Brixham Heritage Regatta, or Yarmouth Solent Area Rally, on the May Bank Holiday weekend. It is thought that the French Gaffers may join in the Channel Islands and accompany the fleet towards St Malo, possibly stopping at the Isles de Chausey, if conditions allow.

This is likely to be a lively three days of gaffering, music, food, wine and cider!  There should be time for SW Gaffers to return towards Falmouth Classics and the Helford Rally or, alternatively, cruise west along the Brittany coast.

More details are in Spring 25 Gaffers Log    Booking forms (in English!) are onthe front page of the National OGA Website. 

 If joining fleet towards St Malo contact Grant Morris solsec@oga.org.uk   There will be dedicated WhatsApp groups for particpants by mid May.

This will be at the Brixham Yacht Club.

We will meet at around 12:15 for lunch, to include the famous Brixham Fish Pie, or a vegetarian option, at 13:00.  This will be followed at 14:30 by an illustrated talk by Jon Seal a boatbuilder at Starcross on the Exe.  Jon will talk about "Clinker Boat Building and its History" both from his own experience building a Morgan Giles 14' open sailing boat and other projects, and a recent visit to Scandinavia.  He has a YouTube "Jon Seal Wood", which may be of interest..

Registration and menu choices from Secretary SW OGA  DEADLINE for Menu Choices  THIS SATURDAY (5th APRIL)

Registration forms will be emailed in mid March and Monday 31st March-  and there is a link below (21st March 25)

To be held at the Fowey Gallants SC, in Fowey, Where Frankie, of Denaros, will, once again, provide an excellent two course lunch, in convivial surroundings, with good beer and wine. 

12:15 for lunch at 13:00.  The meal will be followed, at 14:15, by a short AGM and the presentation of trophies to winners at this year's annual race, held in July in Plymouth, 

Further details from Secretary David Patuck swsec@oga.org.uk

19/10/2024  the Registration and Menu choices form.  A draft Agenda for the AGM and a copy of the Invite letter can now all be down loaded:

A non OGA event but always a part of our sailing calendar.

A full weekend of sail, social and land based events at the mouth of the River Dart.

Gaffer race dates Friday 30, Saturday 31 August.

Sail racing website here

Land based events here

A popular South West event for classic sailing craft devotees.

Details to follow.

A non OGA biennial festival but one that is well supported by our members.

From the event website:

'The Festival
Wooden hulls, spars, topsails and canvas are framed against the majestic beauty of Mounts Bay, transporting visitors back in time.
With this backdrop, our aim is to help preserve the identity of Mousehole as a working fishing village and to celebrate its maritime history. The Pezzack family and local Mousehole community back in 1996, set up the first Sea Salts and Sail festival. It has been repeated every two years since and hopes to continue recreating the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone era, when Tom Bawcock and his famous Mousehole Cat would have fished these waters.

In a nutshell, Sea Salts provides an abundant feast for the senses for all the family. There’s no entry fee which makes it all-inclusive, however, we rely on visitors buying a programme and lots of local food and drink. This revenue generates the much needed funds to help put the event on.

From the Friday afternoon, scores of historic and classic vessels start to appear on the horizon and then gradually assemble in and around the picturesque harbour, often rafted several deep. Home ports include places in Mounts Bay, Falmouth, St. Ives, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and beyond. Many of the boats represent the last in a handful of authentic examples of their kind. The dedicated crews brave ‘the gaps’, skilfully guiding their vessels through the narrow opening of the 500 year old granite harbour entrance. Some, seen as the elite of classic sailing, manage this without engines, just as Mousehole’s forefathers would have done on a daily basis, hundreds of years ago.

Around the harbour local bands provide live music throughout the festival and a well-stocked food and beverage tent will oil the dry inner timbers.

This is very much a family festival, so there’s plenty of entertainment for the kids. There’s poetry, storytelling, wood and stone-carving. The young mariners can also make traditional craft models and then race them in the halso be of great interest to the kids, is the Photographic Display. This captures village life from the 1800s to present day.

As well as the food and drink tents, there will be a dozen or so marquees selling locally crafted goods. Visitors can also enjoy seashore foraging, boat trips and cooking demonstrations or simply take a guided stroll through this beautiful historic village. The old faded black and white postcards showing scenes of the harbour filled with be-canvassed ships are brought to life on this very special weekend.
arbour water – an event that causes much fun, noise and laughter.'

View the boats already attending and sign up here

Our annual Cornish event based on and out of the Helford River.

Contact Tim Price for more details timpriceabroad@hotmail.com

The spectacle of large 10M+ waterline pre WW2 classic racing boats moves east to Devon.

Off shore race past Plymouth & Salcombe to Dartmouth 6 June, rest day 7th, racing to Cowes 8 June.

Another chance to enjoy and photograph beautiful vintage racing yachts in our region.

More detals from fthe official Richard Mille Cup website 

David Clement Memorial Lecture: The First 4-Masted Windjammers, by Bill Cumming.

A SWMHS event in partnership with Topsham Museum.

Cost £7.00. Further details in 2024

Friday 10th May 1024. 7 pm to 9 pm. Matthews Hall, Topsham, Devon.

Neighbouring OGA group the Solent Gaffers visit our patch for a tour of the Boat Building Academy at Lyme Regis.

Spaces limited, contact Grant Morris of The Solent Gaffers at solsec@oga.org.uk for more details.

The Boat Building Academy website is here 

Guided tour of the National Trust Cotehele boathouse housing a number of boat restoration projects.

SWG Events officer & Cotehele volunteer Mike Foreward will give a tour of the boathouse and the restoration of 'Liilian' & 'Shamrock'. Both boats are outside so bring a warm coat!

Nearby National Trust barn cafe open from 10 am.

No attendance fee but donations for the restoration works appreciated.

Full information on the visit can be found here

Please confirm attendance with SWG Secretary David Patuck swsec@oga.org.uk

After a succesful event last year, despite the weather, this new OGA event in the South West, will be a week later.  It is aimed mainly, but not exclusively, at trailer sailers.  Based at Mylor, where there is trailer storage and a slip way at Coastland campsite or Mylor SC (both free to use).  You can also arrange alongside berthing, yourself at Mylor YH marina, if required.  Camping for tents should be arranged directly with Coastlands.  A block booking for caravans and camping vans has been made for the event already (see below to reserve).

There will be refreshments at Mylor SC and Castaways restaurant, with Pasty and a pint at the Mylor SC on the Friday night.  It is also adjacent to the very well appointed Mylor Marina and chandlery, so larger vessels can join in.  Sailing form Mylor to various parts of the extensive waters of Falmouth Harbour is being planned, depending on weather. 

Updated July 2026:

To book a camper van or caravan please contact David Bewick at mylor@oga.org.uk (07971 621448

Registration forms are now available (see below) and should also be sent by email to mylor@oga.org.uk

The check point card for those taking part in the RAID in Carrick Roads is attached, as well as the email of 3rd July with more details pertaining to the event.

Menu choices for Castaways on the Saturday night is awaited but please let David or Oliver know how many for Pasties on the Friday and places for Castaways on the Saturday.  By this Thursday. Payment on the day.

More details from:  David Bewick or Oliver Peterken

The third of the West Country Classics seires.  Starting a day earlier, on the Monday, this year, the 33rd edition of Fowey Classics will follow directly on from the SW Gaffers Plymouth Rally & Annual race, the previous weekend.  It will end on the Thursday, giving time to go around to Looe Luggers & Classics on the Friday.

Always a relaxed and friendly few days, with a dinner at the Royal Fowey YC on the Tuesday, as usual, but mainly based at the excellent Fowey Gallants SC, where supper is available to be booked on arrival day on the Monday and  Frankie's legendary meat of fish (or vegetable) BBQ, after the prizegiving on teh Thurasday/  Racing Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, with a parade of Sail before the Thursday race The pontoons on east side oppoite the lifeboat are reserved. with an eficient ferry service ashore,' till "late". Or use your dinghy to explore the river.

All details, entry forms, meal choice forms are now available at the very comprehensive www.foweyclassics.com  (22nd June)