Two years to go


Unbelievable as it may sound, preparations have already started on the 2013 Looe Lugger Regatta.


but planning starts now by John Collings


The paint’s hardly dry on the harbour wall, where a couple of the old fishing boats probably became a tad too amorous as they struggled with a fast-flowing incoming tide, and it only seems like yesterday that former Looe fisherman Paul Greenwood, the chairman of the Cornish Lugger Association which organises the regatta,was bellowing to the visiting boat crews: ‘See you in 2013!’


It was a cry that was met with tumultuous applause and universal agreement from the record number of boats, their owners and friends, who had travelled to the South East Cornwall port from as far afield as France.


‘We’re all a bit, what’s the word?… tired!’ admitted Greenwood. ‘It was some weekend but, yes, we have already started thinking about the next one.


‘We had a “wash-up” meeting at the Sailing Club the other night where we reviewed what had happened and a number of items were discussed, including having a fresh look at the sailing instructions.’


No date has been arranged for the next regatta. To do so at this stage would be inconsiderate to the many local authorities and people who contribute to the success of the event and who will have their own input into any future regatta.


‘In many respects we have the easy part,’ says Greenwood. ‘We’ve been running the actual sailing for years now.


‘But our regatta’s about more than that. We need, and really appreciate, the support of the town council, the harbourmaster (Geoff Penhaligon), the East and West Looe Town Trusts and, of course, the Sailing Club.


‘Then there are all those other people who help us over the weekend. It’s quite an organisation when you think about it, all knitted together by our secretary-treasurer Andrew Gill and our committee.’


This year’s largest gathering of traditional working sailing luggers – the boats take their rather unusual name from the rig of their sails – had enjoyed a faultless weekend with perfect winds and sunny skies.


Read John Collings’ weekly watersports reports in the Sunday Independent


Looe Mayor and Mayoress David and Annette Bryan were the principal guests at the crews’ receptions and the prizegiving, both functions being held on the fish quay where in years gone by, these wooden, Cornish-built boats would have landed the day’s catch from the English Channel fishing grounds. Indeed, the regatta’s origins date back to the times when the boats vied to become the first back in port to land the rewards of their endeavours.


And just like all those years ago it was the Guide Me, and the seamanship skills of West Cornwall duo Jon and Judy Brickhill, who stole the 2011 show with an immaculate sailing display which saw them walk off with the principal trophies.


The Brickhills’ Looe-built lugger was also celebrating her 100th birthday and the couple received a special birthday cake at the end of the presentation evening.


The Guide Me has sailed extensively across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and the East Coast of the States – despite having no engine.


Built by Peter Ferris at Looe in 1911 for W Pengelly, she is 40-ft overall with a Cornish Dipping Lug rig. The Brickhills found her in the spring of 1977, discarded up Fareham Creek.


‘We knew she was a proper Looe lugger by her shapely hull but it was only after we’d bought her and motored her down to the Helford to start re- building her, that we discovered a little more of her history,’ recalled Judy.


A pilchard driver and long-liner, she fished out of various South East Cornwall harbours until being sold on to the Solent in 1966.


In 1988, the Brickhills sailed south, via France’s Douarnenez Festival, to Spain, Portugal,Tenerife, La Palma before a two-week hop to Brazil for Christmas.


They returned, via Cape Town, and later headed back to the Americas’ coastline.


It was Greenwood and another well- known Looe fishing fleet figure, Mike Darlington, who were among the founders of the Lugger Association more than 20 years ago, when they vowed to give the Guide Me and the many other distinctive boats a new lease of life, rather than let them rot away, discarded in faraway creeks.


This year’s regatta was again backed by Mike Cotton’s Hillcrest House and Nursing Home.


CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Luggers prepare to race. 12 LOOE NEWS AUGUST 2011


For more details about the Lugger Association, please contact Paul Greenwood, the chairman, on Looe (01503) 265 380.


GEORGE GLASSON: Looe Mayor David Bryan congratulates former National Redwing sailing champion Colin Crabb on finishing second in he medium lugger class.


Honours board


CORNISH LUGGER ASSOCIATION 2011 BIENNIAL REGATTA – Large luggers, over 30-ft (all Marshall Estate Agency trophies): 1, Guide Me (Jon and Judy Brickhill, Gweek, near Helston); 2, Reliance (Deena Russell, Penryn); 3, Ocean Pearl (Nick Gates, Emsworth, Hampshire).


Medium luggers (all Looe Fish Selling trophies): 1, Vilona May (Chris Rees, Millbrook); 2, George Glasson (Colin Crabb, Looe); 3, Rose of Argyll (Benôit Cayla, Douarnenez, France).


Small luggers: 1, Twilight (Peter Bagnell, Sidmouth); 2, (Looe Chamber of Commerce Trophy) Percy Mitchell (Ali Green, Beer, East Devon); 3, Moondance (Geoff Pook, Beer).


First Looe-built lugger (Looe Sailing Club Cup): Guide Me.


First across the starting line (Derek Foster Trophy): Our Daddy (Mike Darlington, Looe).


Best endeavour (Alan Pape Trophy): I.R.I.S (Tony Knights, Brixham).


Concours d’elegance (Richard Pengelly Trophy, for the best turned-out boat as judged by the Pengelly family): Ocean Pearl.


Sportsman’s Trophy (donated by Richard Vasey of Astins Sailing Trophies): Silver Stream (Robert and Pearl Simper, Woodbridge, Suffolk).


Oldest skipper (Edwin Matthews Family Cup): Robert Simper.


Oldest boat (Looe Sailing Club Cup): Spinaway, (Graham Butler, Cawsand) named after a famous race horse – and described in her fishing days as ‘The fastest piece of wood in Polperro’ – this Polperro Gaffer was built by Peter Ferris in 1896.


Boat which came fartherest by sea (Norman Pengelly Shield): La Cancalaise (Georgés Yvon, Cancale, France).


Pegasus Shield (Looe Fishermen’s Protection Association): Happy Return (Mark Mitchell, Penzance).


Spirit of the Regatta (Barnabas Trophy): Gem (Jo Ashbridge, Penryn).


Looe Town Council awards: Every skipper received a special commemorative plaque, generously donated by Looe Town Council and presented by the Mayor and Mayoress David and Annette Bryan.


CHANNEL HOPPER: The impressive three-masted fishing lugger, La Cancalaise, which took part in the Cornish Lugger Association’s regatta in Looe Bay – only the second time since 2001 that the replica of La Perle, the last of the original French bisquines, had visited these shores


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