Sea Salts and Sail

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Sea Salts and Sail A traditional sailing festival in Mousehole, Cornwall. The 3-5 July 2026 festival is now completed and the next will be held in 2028.

The festival and this page are run by volunteers. Last Festival 1-3 July 2022 (next in 2024)

To preserve the identity of the village as a working fishing village and celebrate its maritime past the local community also set up the first Sea Salts and Sail festival in 1996, and have repeated it every two years since. The harbour is the main focus, with visits from traditional craft, a full programme of rowing and sailing races, activities especially for the children, music, fun and games, traditional craft demonstrations, open artists’ studios, and of course plenty of local fare to eat and drink. The festival lasts over a three-day weekend with a variety of different events, performances and amusements. There is something in the festival for everyone, from the holiday family to the traditional boat enthusiast, but the greatest attraction is always Mousehole itself, a settlement born of practical necessities, which quite incidentally became one of the most picturesque and beautiful harbour villages in Britain. In order to achieve this we invite traditional sailing craft, such as Luggers, Gaffers, and Crabbers etc, all of which once filled the harbour of Mousehole. Fishing was once the main industry in Mousehole and boats such as these were once a common sight in the village. Many of the residents today, and certainly the children of Mousehole can only rely on an occasional picture being shown to them to appreciate what the village used to look like. However, with the help of a Photographic Display, which shows many pictures of the village and harbour from the 1800’s to present day, we can keep some of Mousehole’s heritage alive. The Committee concentrates on the heritage angle whilst offering various items of entertainment and demonstrations that caters for all age groups. The festival is run entirely by volunteers and has a policy of ploughing some of the profits back into the account, for future festivals, as well as donating to some worthwhile local charities. After sadly loosing one of our most valuable young volunteers in early 2007 the heart went out of Mousehole and it was uncertain whether or not the festival would continue. However many of the younger element have shown their support and enthusiasm and are determined to keep the festival alive.

Could you help shape Sea, Salts & Sail 2028? ⚓This July, Sea, Salts & Sail celebrated its 30th anniversary and welcomed ...
21/09/2026

Could you help shape Sea, Salts & Sail 2028? ⚓

This July, Sea, Salts & Sail celebrated its 30th anniversary and welcomed our biggest, busiest and most successful festival yet.

As a not-for-profit community event held every two years, none of it would be possible without the dedication of our committee and the incredible support of over 200 volunteers across the festival weekend. Thank you to every single one of you.

As we begin planning for 2028, we’re looking for enthusiastic people to join our committee in these key roles:

📱 Communications Officer
Take the lead on our website, enquiries, PR and social media. While the role is busiest in the six months before the festival, we’d love to begin a handover now. It’s a fantastic opportunity to help share and celebrate Mousehole’s unique maritime heritage.

🔨 Site Manager
A practical, hands-on role overseeing the build, operation and take-down of the festival site. Ideal for someone who enjoys organising projects and isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves.

A heartfelt thank you to the committee members who have served in these roles with such commitment. They’re now ready to step aside for personal reasons and are keen to pass the baton to people with fresh skills, ideas and enthusiasm.

If you’d like to play a part in keeping this much-loved festival thriving, we’d love to hear from you.

📧 Email: [email protected]

Please include:
• Your contact details
• The role you’re interested in
• Why you’d like to join the committee
• Any relevant experience.

✨ That’s a wrap on Sea, Salts & Sail 2026! ✨What a weekend it’s been! From magnificent boats, sailing and sculling races...
09/07/2026

✨ That’s a wrap on Sea, Salts & Sail 2026! ✨

What a weekend it’s been! From magnificent boats, sailing and sculling races to live music, chef demonstrations, children’s activities, delicious food, local drinks and so many smiles along the way… Mousehole truly came alive. ❤️⚓

Thank you to everyone who supported the festival by buying programmes, merchandise, food and drink, bidding for Vicki Norman’s stunning festival painting, and to the many local businesses whose generous donations helped make this free festival possible.

A huge thank you to our amazing team of over 200 volunteers, who gave up their time across the three days to run the bar, BBQ, refreshments, merchandise and so much more. Your energy, enthusiasm and smiles kept the festival running from start to finish.

Behind every festival is a dedicated team. Our heartfelt thanks go to our committee and site crew, who work tirelessly and selflessly for well over a year behind the scenes, planning, organising, building and managing every detail to make Sea, Salts & Sail happen.

We’re completely exhausted… but every second was worth it. 💙

Thank you for making our 30th anniversary festival one to remember. That’s a wrap, folks… we’ll see you all again in 2028! ⛵🎉

09/07/2026

⛵️ Congratulations to all of our 2026 Sea, Salts & Sail Sailing Race winners! ⛵️

What a fantastic racing, with some brilliant sailing and close competition out on the water. A huge well done to every skipper and crew who took part and helped make this year’s races such a highlight of the festival.

Thanks also to Mounts Bay Distillery for donating Cornish rum as prizes.

🏆 Class 1 – Large Boats (32ft and over)
🥇 Guide Me – Johno & Jude Brickhill
🥈 Gladys – Charlotte Whyte
🥉 Holly Mae – Joff & Noel Rorke

🏆 Class 2 – Middle Sized Boats (23–32ft)
🥇 George Glasson
🥈 Burgundy – Andy Tanner
🥉 Vilona May

🏆 Class 3 – Small Boats (23ft and under)
🥇 Blue Jacket – Davis Ellis
🥈 Gwengolo
🥉 Dreckly – Matt Brunyee

Benoit Kayla, skipper of the engineless lugger Maggie Helen collects the award for tenacity, the longest journey and the Bretons taking the sculling prize from 'the rest of the world'. 2 1/2 weeks from Inverness: snapping a yard in the Caledonian Canal and made another from a random tree trunk, bobbing around in the North channel in swealtering conditions, sheltering from southerlies twice off Southern Ireland and pushing MH with their tender through tacks off Landsend and so much more.

Thank you to everyone who took part, supported from the shore and helped keep this wonderful Mousehole tradition thriving. Until next time! 🌊⛵️

09/07/2026
09/07/2026

The stunning ‘Timeless Traditions’ painted by Vicki Norman Studio sold for an incredible £3,400!

The only way to wash a tatiella dish is the Hugh Jones way...
06/07/2026

The only way to wash a tatiella dish is the Hugh Jones way...

Huge thanks to Elaine at Mousehole Heritage Walks
06/07/2026

Huge thanks to Elaine at Mousehole Heritage Walks

Massive thanks to everyone who joined my free Sea Salts and Sail heritage walks around Mousehole over the weekend. You kindly donated over £150 towards festival funds, with a couple of online donations promised. Thank you for your generosity, it was a real pleasure to meet you all. 😎

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Mousehole
Mousehole

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