Coupe des Trois Phare 3rd – 9th August 2000

The organisers of the traditional boat and classic yacht rally held every August in Falmouth have announced that they will be staging the start of a new long distance classic yacht race in August 2000.

The 350 miles race called the Coupes des Trois Phare (Three Light House Race) will sail from Falmouth to Douarnenez and then on to la Rochelle for the Classic Yacht of the Year Award. “Our partners in this new and exciting event” said Classic’s chairman Martin Tregoning “will be the La Rochelle Maritime Museum and the Douarnenez Regatta Committee and we are delighted to have joined forces with them”.

This new association follows sailing exchanges between Falmouth Classic’s and its twinned town Douarnenez, which started in 1995 and a fresh approach to Falmouth’s new Maritime events co-ordinator Mike Rangecroft, a former Classic’s chairman himself. “We are especially looking forward to welcoming an advance guard of these beautiful yachts to the Classic’s this summer” he said.

Now in its 11th year, the immensely popular Falmouth Classic’s attracts several hundred classic and traditional craft to its three-day event each year. Among the regular visitors are many boats from Brittany and further afield. “We feel that this is a natural progression for the Classic’s, Particularly with the friendships that have been forged with the French through our mutual love of sailing traditional boats” commented Martin.

At the weekend a delegation from La Rochelle visited Falmouth to discuss the event and formally cement the link. During their stay there was time for a visit to the Royal Cornwall yacht Club, where with Mrs Sue Treneer of the Port Of Falmouth Sailing Association, Club Commodore Richard Shapland welcomed the visitors and offered the Club’s support to this fresh new race on Falmouth’s sailing calendar.