Falmouth Sailing Week wins national award in year of Covid

Falmouth Sailing Week beaten five other nominations to win the category ‘Event of The Year’ in the British Yachting Awards 2020. The annual regatta that runs parallel with Falmouth Week every August is organised by the Port of Falmouth Sailing Association. Against all odds a small but very determined team persevered with the organisation throughout the summer, even when lockdown legislation and guidelines were set against holding such an event. To the relief of the committee, more than 120 boats were able to race in a Covid-19 compliant format and became the first national sailing regatta to go ahead during a summer when everything else had been cancelled. Nigel Sharp, chairman of PoFSA, said in his acceptance speech: "I am absolutely delighted that Falmouth Sailing Week has won this award. "The people who plan and run Falmouth Sailing Week come from the six sailing and yacht clubs in the Falmouth area and, right from the time that it became apparent that Covid-19 was going to present huge difficulties in holding this year’s event, every one of them showed a tremendously positive attitude and worked tirelessly to ensure it could go ahead. This award is for all of them." Organisers are already beginning to look at next year's event, which will take place between August 7 and 14.