Eve of St Mawes - Day Sail

Cornwall Escapes - Day sail on Eve in May

Join us in May as we offer two Day Sails to compliment our 2012 schedule which includes a variety of 3 day taster voyages, RYA courses, Festival voyages across the channel to France, racing around the infamous Fastnet Rock and exploring Southern Ireland, as well as sailing in some of the best sailing waters in the world, here in Cornwall.

Eve's regular skippers Adam and Debbie have lived in Cornwall since 1997 and we love the early summer. As the sea temperature starts to rise, plankton blooms and everything springs into life. Seabirds breed on the cliffs, jelly fish float past, basking sharks start to appear, and this is prime time for dolphin spotting.

We paint our pilot cutter Eve of St Mawes dazzling blue to match the Cornish seascape. Artists have been drawn to the sea, rugged coastline and the famous light quality in the far west for centuries. Eves turquoise blue decks and hull seems to help get everybody in the holiday mood too. On the edge of the Atlantic Ocean we have our share of wild grey days, but they just seem to make the achingly beautiful blue sky / deep blue sea days extra special.

 Founders of Classic Sailing Adam and Debbie based the company in St Mawes because we felt Cornwall and the Scillies was the best cruising ground in the world. We now promote sailing holidays in many far flung destinations but a flat water blast along the South Cornwall coast in a crystal clear north westerly takes some beating.

Joining on the quay at St Mawes at 10:00, you will be met by your skipper, and once aboard will be introduced to Eve. There will be a safety briefing before you set sail, and all instruction will be given so that you can sail the boat. Lunch will be a flexible affair, at anchor or whilst sailing, and will be cooked by your skipper or 1st mate.

Western Approaches - a historic cruising ground

Stretching between Brittany and the Scillies, and covering the anchorage’s and ports of the West Country, we sail the same Western Approaches as the original pilot cutters would have to patrolled in search of the next sailing ship to put their pilot aboard.

 The Breton, Scillionian, and Cornish that fringe the Atlantic hang fiercely onto their seafaring traditions—celebrating their history with gig boat racing, traditional wooden boatbuilding and maritime festivals. In fourteen years of operating Eve we still receive warm welcomes from local people wherever we go. I think it is because we fit so well into their timeless landscapes.  

Day sails

Beginners & experienced Sailors are welcome on our day sails.Over the last 14 years, on Eve alone we have introduced at least two thousand newcomers to sailing through our day sails, 3 day taster voyages and our longer, more adventurous voyages across to France or the annual Pilot Cutter Review.

Eve makes a great boat to start sailing on. She has wide decks with plenty of room. She is a fine sea boat with a well proven safety record and kept to the highest standards. With blocks and tackles you can see what you are doing and the team work makes for a great sailing holiday.

We are also a recognised RYA Training Establishment so if you want to do a 6 day beginners course then look at our RYA Competent Crew Course on Eve of St Mawes for a more intensive and structured introduction to practical seamanship.

Eve has overnight berth accommodation for 7 people on board, and whilst you won't need it whilst on a day sail, it does mean that if you are travelling with gear, you can store it below whilst you sail on deck. There is also a 'head' or bathroom facilities on board, a saloon / dining area and a small galley.

Healthy Exercise & Environmentally Friendly

Traditional Sailing boats like Eve are powered by the wind, but to harness it requires quite a bit of satisfying physical effort and teamwork. There are no winches on board except the antique brass handled windlass, so you soon get to know your fellow guests as you haul on blocks and tackles. Sometimes we glide effortlessly through the water with 14 tons of oak and larch propelled by the wind or tide. If the forecast is wrong it can be more of a struggle. After the tenth tacking manoeuvre into the teeth of a freshening gale you might begin to wish you had been to the gym more often. There is plenty of conversation, but even on a 38ft deck you can find a corner for quiet contemplation. For these voyages we can welcome sailors from age 11 upwards.

Unspoilt Sailing Ground

 From Eve’s mooring in St Mawes we can explore Falmouth Bay, one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Much of the Coastline is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, AONB, and there is no better way of appreciating than from the deck of beautiful sailing boat.

A typical day will take us across the bay to the Helford River, or perhaps upstream towards the historic Smugglers Tavern and the King Harry Ferry. You'll be surprised at how far and how much we can do in just 1 day.

Wildlife at Sea & Ashore

The remoteness of the Cornish coast this far west bring their own special reward to those who travel with us: Starry nights with no street lights; ocean sunsets, isolated lighthouses and tiny fishing harbours; cliffs sculptured by pounding winter gales; almost tropical white sands with sparkling mica sticking to your toes; woodlands stunted by the wind but with trees adorned with lichen (a sure sign of unpolluted air) and lush ferns and springs along the many coastal footpaths.

The Gulf Stream provides unexpected sightings of turtles, sunfish and more regular visits by dolphins (common, bottlenose and risso’s dolphin), porpoises, whales and giant basking sharks. Gales often bring in wheeling gannets, tiny storm petrels, guillemots, razorbills and even puffins.

The Fal and Helford Estuaries are designated as Special Areas of Marine Interest. Breeding seals hide in sea caves and deep zawns. The drowned river valleys (called rias) have dense oak woodlands with branches sweeping down to deep green waters. At low tide the mudflats are home to egrets, curlews, oystercatchers and leggy herons—all the birds that go screech. At night you hear owls hooting in the moonlight, and a few guests have seen elusive otters in the early morning mists.

We record all wildlife sightings in the ships log and occasionally run specialist wildlife voyages or marine conservation breaks on Eve., but you only need to keep your eyes peeled on any voyage to see the best wildlife moments. Our Skippers have learned much from wildlife experts we have invited on board. Both Debbie and Adam are acredited (Wise) wildlife safe operators and we encourage all new skippers to develop their wildlife expertise.

We have some world class dive spots locally and in the Scillies due to the lack of major sediment bearing rivers, rich underwater ecosystem and wrecks, so it is well worth bringing a snorkel, mask & wetsuit in summer you have mermaid (or merman) tendencies. Many of our anchorages are near interesting rock pools or eel grass, or maerl beds where seahorses hide.