Cornwall Life: August 2019 105The town of Fowey in South
Cornwall is intrinsically linked to
the river which gives it its name.
This connection is celebrated by
visitors who come from around
the world to enjoy the Fowey
Royal Regatta which puts sailing
at the heart of a week of events.
Old enough to have once
greeted Queen Victoria and
Prince Albert as visitors, this
regatta is enthusiastically
supported by sponsors, local
people, crowdfunding and the
sale of merchandise and regatta
programmes to keep the event
free for all.The sailing programme
includes yacht races to and from
Falmouth, a regatta course in St
Austell Bay and races for dinghies
and keelboat classes. The
traditional Falmouth working
boats in-harbour race takes place
on Thursday afternoon with
children’s races on Saturday
morning prior to the gig racing.
There’s lots of entertainment
for all including carnival day
with its procession through the
town, a pasty-eating competition,
harbour swimming races, fun
run, crab catching competition
and homemade raft races. Thetown also hosts a traditional
Flora Dance when everyone
dresses in white clothes adorned
with flowers. To cap it all there’s a
spectacular firework display and
the appearance of the Red Devils
Army Parachute Display Team.
There’s live music on the Town
Quay throughout the week
including tribute bands Not the
Beatles and Queen pretenders The
Good Old Fashioned Lover Boys,
Ska and Two-Tone London band
The Irregulars plus Cornish bands
the seven-piece Black Friday and
O’Deus.
foweyregatta.co.uk1-25 AUGUST
PETROC
Cornish stand-up comedian Tamsyn Kelly talks
about growing up on an estate near Land’s End
in her brand new show, Petroc, which she is
taking to the Edinburgh Fringe where she made
her debut in 2018 with You’re Welcome.
Tamsyn’s parents had been homeless before
she was born and her arrival meant they were
assigned a council house. Due to her father’s
financial irresponsibility and mother’s disability,
Tamsyn and her two brothers grew up in a loud,
strained household. She dreamed of moving to
London. After making the move ten years ago,
Petroc sees Tamsyn consider whether that’s
worked out.
Tickets at edfringe.com.
3-17 August
Mawnan Cornish craft market
This is probably one of the best two-week summer
art and craft events in Cornwall with more than 70
artists and craftspeople at the Memorial Hall in the
pretty village of Mawnan Smith.
Ceramics, textiles, paintings, jewellery, woodwork
and local produce will be on sale and there are
teas, coffees, homemade cakes and the essential
cream tea available daily in the tearoom. All profits
go to the upkeep of Mawnan Memorial Hall.
The craft market is open from 10am to 5pm daily
and admission is free.18 -24 Aug u stFOWEY ROYAL REGATTA
The town of Fowey’s Royal Regatta week has plenty of action on and off the waterDIARY