Celebrating with Sir Robin

We had lovely calm and sunny conditions for a couple of nights at anchor off St Mawes, at the entrance to the Fal estuary. A pretty but touristy town, it was busy over the Easter weekend.

Maunie at St Mawes

A traditional pilot cutter from the Isles of Scilly

We then moved over to anchor at Falmouth. It was quite a day, yesterday, to be part of the 50 year celebrations of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's arrival in Falmouth, having become the first person to circumnavigate the globe, solo and non-stop. His 32ft wooden ketch Suhaili, which he and two friends built in India, has been beautifully restored and he sailed her, accompanied by a fleet of over 40 boats, across the finish line at precisely 15.24 (the time he crossed it in 1969). 

We joined the flotilla so here are some photos:

Lively Lady (built in 1948 and sailed around the world by Sir Alec Rose in 1968 - he stopped in Australia and New Zealand) and Suhaili, moored at the Falmouth Yacht Haven

Sir Robin unveils bronze casts of his footprints, showing his departure and arrival dates

Sir Robin and a fine yacht in the background

Suhaili in very fine condition

Setting out to re-enact the race finish

Some of the fleet, including HMS Mersey

Following Suhaili and Lively Lady towards the finish line. Luckily there was no wind!

Heading back to Falmouth

We are now anchored up river and are planning to head back towards Dartmouth. The period of sunny settled weather will change tomorrow so we'll get favourable SW winds but rain too.