Key members of the Organising Team work alongside many volunteers, race officers, rescue boat crews, and many more. The work they do ensures a successful event that all can enjoy. Would you like to Volunteer next year? Do tell us
Richard Bownas
Classics Maritime Village
Nicky and I retired and returned to Cornwall after 30 years away to live close to the sea. I was persuaded to be Village Manager in 2017 for one year but have now been in the role ever since!! We are keen vegetable gardeners and always seem to have major DIY projects on the go but do still find time to volunteer as NCI watch keeper at NCI Nare Point. Richard has a RIB and often fishes in the Bay.
Malcolm Clark
Results Co-ordinator
I’ve been responsible for the processing and publication of the Classics results for about 10 years, backed up by an excellent team of recorders. Most years we do this afloat and publish remotely.
As a previous Commodore of Banbury Sailing Club I took part in a couple of Round the Island races and some jaunts on the west coast of Scotland. Outside of this I am a dedicated park runner.
Patrick Clarke
Joint Vice Chair, Berthing & Mooring
Patrick is a keen yachtsman and dinghy sailor mainly in racing gained during a successful and enjoyable 36-year Army career. Since leaving the service he has been involved in sailing and powerboat instruction for the Falmouth School of Sailing, RNAS Culdrose and Southwest Powerboating.
He has used his safety boat experience to manage regatta safety, especially for major events in Falmouth. Patrick is a regular dinghy racer at Restronguet SC and in the past has sailed a gaffer successfully in the Round the Island Race. His first involvement with Falmouth Classics was in 2013. He is also voluntary member of Falmouth Lifeboat Visits Team.
Paul Fowler
Small Boat Parade & Social Media
Paul Fowler joined the organising team for the 2023 event and helped with berthing and at short notice took on the role of Small Boats Parade Director. He made such a good job of this role that he will continues in 2024. He owns a 1984 Westerly Griffon twin keeler and enjoys local trips with his family. He is a member of Mylor Yacht Club and Restronguet Sailing Club.
Melanie Franks
Design, Print & Marketing
Having been an onshore spectator for some years, I am very excited to now be part of the Classics team. The Classics Regatta attracts between 150 and 300 boats annually and really is quite a spectacle to watch. I sail with my partner in our Crabber, Blue Moon, and we have been known to bring up the rear in the Parade for Power and Sail. I am also involved with other sailing and racing activities, and other onshore events, during the year.
Paul Hobson
Chair & Sponsorship
I joined the team to help organise the 2018 event, mostly around safety. I have been messing around in boats in Falmouth for the last half century, having also kept boats on the East Coast and the Solent. “Tehidy”, a 40 year old cutter rigged Rossiter Pintail is my current boat. I am also involved with the organising of the Point and Penpol Regatta.
Kevin Maclean
Classic Parade of Power and Sail
I’m a Falmouth man born and bred. I come from a long line of seafarers and have myself, spent over 40 years deep sea in the Merchant Navy. Ever since I was a boy I’ve loved sailing and have always had a boat in Falmouth harbour.
As a member of both Flushing Sailing and Royal Cornwall Yacht Clubs I race regularly, and on occasion act as Race Officer. I have also been involved in many sailing events such as the Richard Mille Cup and national championships for various classes.
Richard Pugh
Sponsorship & Merchandise
My first sailing experience in ‘The Carrick Roads’ was in 1974 whilst crewing on ‘What a Twister’, an Uphams built Twister 28 during Falmouth week. In one form or another have sailed in the same waters almost every year since. Even in the ‘Classics’.
Along with my wife Liz we eventually made Cornwall (Penryn) our permanent home in 2022. Our 40ft Sailing cruiser, ‘Bibo’ is moored in Mylor Yacht Harbour and has acted as committee boat for the bay fleet during PoFSA for the last few years.
Nigel Sharp
Chief Race Officer
A lifelong sailor and having previously had a timber Folkboat for 20 years, I currently own Songbird, a Contessa 32. I have acted as race officer for Falmouth Sailing Week (the Carrick Roads classes) since 2017, and the Dragon class’s Edinburgh Cup in 2022. I am also an almost full-time freelance marine journalist.
Robert Talbot
Deputy Race Officer
Robert learned to sail on Frensham Pond in Surrey and developed his dinghy sailing skills at school before leading his College sailing team. His career in engineering and project management took him around the world, sailing in Indonesia, California, Texas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi where he was privileged to crew on bigger boats.
His interest in Race Management began in 2016 when he was asked to help run the St Feock and Pill Creek (Loe Beach) Regatta. He now Chairs the team responsible for that regatta and helps to organise Falmouth Sailing Week, assisting with the Carrick Fleet racing. He achieved registration as an RYA Regional Race Officer in 2023.
Jim Totman
Joint Vice Chair & Media
A recently joined member of the team and native of Penryn Jim has been messing about in boats on Carrick roads for many years, currently in “Strawbuckie” a 23’ Hunter Sonata.
A keen interest in historic craft built and used in and around Falmouth, Jim is a volunteer at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall where he is involved in the building of replica boats for the collection.
Sue Treneer
Event Administration
Sue started sailing in Falmouth at the age of 8, and has continued racing and cruising in Cadets, Sunbeams, and a variety of yachts ever since, both locally and long distance, including the Fastnet.
Many years as Sailing Secretary of Mylor Yacht Club, working within Port of Falmouth Sailing Association, and over 30 years racing in a working boat, led to her involvement with the first Classics in 1987. She has enjoyed participating in running the event and is very pleased to still be involved.
Alex Tullett
Social Events
Alex has been attending classic regattas in various guises since 2006, initially on a 9 ton Hillyard called Dawn Lady restored from a sunken condition over 10 years and latterly on Maffick, an 18 ton Hillyard with his wife and daughter.
Maffick and the family attend a number of Classic festivals across the Brittany and Cornish coasts so you may bump into them in Fowey, Douarnanez, Brest, Paimpol or the Channel Islands.
Keith Tullet
Former Chair & Director
Keith has a long-lasting involvement with classic boats, having previously owned a Maurice Griffiths designed Barbican 33 and since 2005 a 13 ton Hillyard. He was involved with the first of the new era Falmouth Classics as an officer of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and hosted the events as commodore 2013-2016. In 2018 he returned as chairman for 2 years; since then he has been a member of the organising team.
Keith and his wife Lynne now keep their 1974 13 ton Hillyard “Vivona” in Brest and attend many of the Breton classic boat festivals from Binic, around the coast and down to the Golfe of Morbihan. At future Falmouth Classics Keith may be found crewing on his son’s 1964 18 ton Hillyard, if “Vivona” is still in Brittany. They also have a 12 foot clinker lugger, presently under repair.
Chris Williams
Treasurer
An interest in promoting sailing events in Falmouth resulted in involvement with the Falmouth Classics. He usually crews on a participating yacht. Chris is a member of Mylor Yacht Club, Restronguet Sailing Club and the Treasurer of Port of Falmouth Sailing Association. He often holidays in Brittany and enjoys visiting the classic events.
Julian Wolfram
Sponsorship & Advertising
Julian is a member of Mylor YC and Restronguet SC and recently joined the Classics Team. He started sailing at school with seamanship training and followed by offshore racing and cruising, before becoming a RYA/DoT Yacht master Offshore in 1984. On retirement from teaching naval architecture to students for many years he finally designed and built himself a 20ft wooden gaffer. She participated in the 2017 Falmouth Classics and will do so again this year.
Simon Ambler
Safety Lead
Mike Robson
Rowing & Sculling
