St Ives Harbour came alive on Saturday 30th May as hundreds of residents and visitors gathered for the return of Boats in the Bay, a spectacular celebration of our town’s maritime heritage. Organised by St Ives BID in partnership with the Jumbo Association, the festival brought together heritage vessels, local organisations, businesses and the wider community for a day filled with pride, tradition and fun.
From the moment the heritage boats arrived in town, there was a real buzz around the harbour. The shoreside programme kept visitors entertained throughout the day, with community stalls, family activities, storytelling, traditional games and live music creating a fantastic atmosphere. One of the highlights was the performance from the St Ives Arts Club Ukulele Collective, whose music drew crowds to Harbour Beach and perfectly captured the spirit of the occasion.
The ever-popular Tug of War, organised by the 3rd St Ives (Carbis Bay) Scout Group, saw businesses, families and friends battling it out on the sand, while children enjoyed a range of activities provided by local organisations and volunteers. The support from community groups and volunteers throughout the day was exceptional and helped make the festival a true community event.
As the afternoon unfolded, attention turned to the water. The sight of traditional luggers and heritage vessels sailing across St Ives Bay was unforgettable, providing a powerful reminder of the town’s deep connection to the sea. The parade of sail was followed by thrilling scully racing in the harbour, bringing the day to an exciting close.
A particularly special moment was welcoming visitors from Camaret-sur-Mer, St Ives’ twinning town in Brittany. Their presence strengthened the historic maritime links between our two communities and added an international flavour to the celebrations.
The success of Boats in the Bay would not have been possible without the incredible support of local businesses, sponsors, volunteers, community organisations and harbour users. From providing accommodation and refreshments for crews to helping promote the event and creating a warm welcome throughout the town, the business community played a huge part in making the festival such a success.
Most importantly, Boats in the Bay achieved exactly what it set out to do – bringing people together to celebrate the harbour, recognise our fishing and maritime heritage, and showcase everything that makes St Ives such a special place.
Thank you to everyone who took part, attended, volunteered, sponsored, supported or simply stopped to enjoy the spectacle. We look forward to building on this success and welcoming Boats in the Bay back to St Ives in the future.
