The St Ives Jumbo Association

21/03/2026

A Jumbo Night Out!
After all this rain and gloom, here's something to look forward to. Our first social gathering of 2026 in the town’s most venerated venue- with a bar! Furthermore, an opportunity to learn more about these phenomenal schooners that feature in the movie 'Captains Courageous.' Gloucester, Massachusetts was home to some of the biggest and fastest schooners ever built. At one time it was the most productive fishing port in the world - and the most dangerous.
A professional model-maker by day, David Spy has very kindly offered to give this fundraising presentation. It was recently very well attended and received by the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club.

Gloucester, Massachusetts was home to some of the biggest and fastest schooners ever built. At one time it was the most productive fishing port in the world and the most dangerous. David Spy gives us an illustrated talk on the story of New England Fishing Schooners.

28/10/2025

Sailing report 11.10.25

Muster: 08:30. HW: 08:26
On board: Mike, Michelle, Paul W and Rupert (skipper).
Conditions: light E/SE breeze F1-2, calm sea, sunny spells.

Paul did well to helm in quite challenging conditions with a strong ebbing tide flowing out past the harbour and a very gentle ESE breeze. A close watch on progress over ground was needed.

With wind and tide in the same direction it was difficult to make progress to windward. Lacking confidence in the breeze, we kept inshore, tacking a few times across the outer moorings as we tried to make Porthminster Point before heading back to the harbour.

A gentle but quite challenging sail, enjoyed by all.

Rupert

27/10/2025

Sailing Report - Tuesday 7.10.25

Muster: 16:00, HW 18:00 7.2m, wind F0-2, W
Skipper: Alastair

A very spontaneous sail - Jim, Alastair & Rupert planned to sail the neglected picarooner Shearwater but a mooring line had well and truly jammed between a broken keel iron and the keel so we hopped aboard William Paynter.

The omens were not great as Scott had just rowed a becalmed Mia back in but a westerly draught turned into a more confident F1-2 breeze allowing a cautious sail, given the very big spring tide.

A few tacks and gybes across the ‘outer harbour’, staying well clear of the tidal race off Porthgwidden, then back to the mooring.

Getting ashore from the punt on the top of a 7.2m tide with 2m ground sea running was quite a challenge. With no beach left we opted for the steps by the running mooring, holding both mooring lines from the stern to prevent the punt crashing into the steps as crew disembarked and then pulling the punt we’ll clear while the mooring was attached both ends before the crew pulled the punt back to the steps, again controlling the outhaul rope to prevent contact with the steps.

Rupert

23/10/2025

Jumbo Sail Thursday 16 October

William Paynter
Wind F3 ESE
Slight chop
Cloudy

Five members and one prospective member met at the lodge at 2pm.

Scott B, Jonathan T, Jim F, Michelle D, Pam R & Louise.

After a safety briefing and rigging the the boat we left the harbour on a port tack, easily clearing West Pier and Pedn Olver. We then tacked off the middle of Porthminster beach and sailed aback through the boats moored in the roads.

Once clear we tacked round again and set off towards Carbis Bay but, making rather more leeway than expected, had to tack again just beyond Porthminster Point.

We then headed further out into the bay and now, with Michelle on the helm, headed out beyond the Island until the coastline to the west opened up.

Then it was another tack and back down to Carbis Bay, spotting a pod of dolphins overtaking us about 50 yards to windward. We tacked again off the middle of Carbis Bay beach after which Jonathan took over on the helm and took us out into the bay in the direction of Godrevy Island with another pod of dolphins spotted about 100 yards off.

Eventually it was time to return to the harbour and we tacked round to run down towards Porthminster and then gybed to run into the harbour.

With Scott now back on the helm we rounded up after passing the end of Smeaton’s Pier, dropping the forelug shortly after, and finally coming up the mooring under the mizzen only.

All ashore after an excellent sail at about 4.45.

Scott

23/10/2025

SAIL REPORT: Sunday 12th October 2025
Crew: Chris F.
Scott B.
Jim F.
Paul W.
Paul B.
Tony F.
Boat: William Paynter
Wind: E.2/3

On a rather grey and chilly autumn morning the crew assembled in the Rose Lodge at 8.30 to get the best of the tide. Scott scullied us out to W.P. and with only a light breeze we prepared to leave the harbour on a port tack. Normally an Easterly wind presents some difficulty when exiting the harbour but in such a light wind we cleared the harbour and past Pednolva Point with no difficulty.

From the middle of ‘Mester Beach we tacked and headed over towards Merryn Pool and then gybed and sailed on a close reach towards Carrack Gladden Point.

Here we tacked again and made our way back across the Bay Until we were about half-a-mile off the Head. By now the wind was quite variable in strength and direction, blowing fresh at times.

Another tack took us down towards ‘Mester Beach where we tacked once more up towards the Island. Then we went about once again and ran down towards the harbour. Inside the harbour we lowered the forelug and came up to the punt on the mizzen alone. We Swung William Paynter bow-out and when all was secure we came ashore in the punt.

A very pleasant, if chilly, late season sail. Thanks to Scott and Paul for organising the sail and for all the crew in handling the boat so well.

Tony F.

23/10/2025

SAIL REPORT: Sunday 28th Sepember 2025
CREW: Michelle D.
Jim F.
Tony F.

Boat: William Paynter

Wind: NW 2

After we had assembled in the Lodge at 8.30 for an early start, Scott sorted out the two crews and then we made our way down the punts on a clear but rather chilly morning with very little wind.

Tony scullied us out to William Paynter and we made ready to leave the harbour on a starboard tack in very light airs, with Michelle on the helm and Jim and Tony working the boat.

Once clear of the harbour and just off Pednolva Point we gybed and picked up a steady breeze to take us off past Merryn Pool and out clear of the Island.

Because of the light wind and with a reduced crew we decided not to go off too far into the Bay in case we had to row back. Instead we made several trips between ‘Mester Beach and the Island. We had good opportunity to hone our tacking and gybing skills while Michelle helmed.

With a steady swell and light winds we found it awkward to go through the wind whilst off the Head and twice ended up gybing instead, as our momentum was quickly halted by the head-on swell.

Meanwhile we noticed that Celeste had taken a longer trip, downwind, towards Carbic Bay .

When the time came to “save-water-in”, Michelle steered us close past the end of Smeaton’s Pier and we sailed just inside the West Pier. We then sailed aback across the harbour before dropping the forelug and Jim and Tony rowed and Michelle guided us up to our moorings.

With little water to spare we got the punt onto its moorings and ended a very pleasant sail in warm sunshine. Thanks to Michelle and Jim for excellent boat work.

Tony F

09/10/2025

28 Sep 25 Sunday morning sailing on Celeste
Ian W(C)
Scott
Paul W
Jonathan T

Our first challenge was to get the punt off the beach in a difficult surf situation! I made this look much harder than it was and I faffed around with the sculling oar until we eventually arrived at Celeste. As Celeste was pointing towards the shore when we boarded her we then had to swing her around.

I helmed out of the harbour with the sail set aback to allow the first gybe to be uneventful (that was Scott’s idea, not mine, and it worked perfectly). The wind was calm but we were soon into the bay. The wind picked up slightly during the morning which allowed us to have a very pleasant sail.

I gave Jonathan the job of controlling the mainsheet as he’s the star of the St. Ives Sailing Club (so I hear) and he did an excellent job.

Paul took over on the helm and put the boat through a series of tacks and gybes and practiced some close-quarter jousting with William Paynter. As the winds were light we decided not to stray far from the harbour.

We somehow managed to get the mizzen sheet wrapped around the mizzen boom. Not sure how that happened, but it was probably due to the sheet being too loose on one of the manoeuvres.

Scott then took the helm and with an act of sheer brilliance (not aided by any of the rest of the crew) sailed Celeste right up to the mooring, performing a last-second 180 degrees turn to kill all forward momentum at exactly the right time.

More faffing with the sculling oar from me and we somehow ended up back on shore, none the worst from a very enjoyable morning.

Ian

01/10/2025

Jumbo sail Wednesday 24 September

Four of us met at the Lodge at 16.30 on a lovely sunny afternoon.

Looking out over the harbour it didn’t look as if there was any wind at all which, after all planned sails over the last few weeks having been cancelled due to too much wind, was a bit galling. However we decided to give it a go and scullied out to William Paynter.

Crew: Scott B, Paul W David E and Paul.
Sea: Calm
Wind: generally N to NW mostly F1.

After rigging we sensed a little breeze which we hoped would be enough to get out of the harbour and that we’d find a bit more outside.

With David at the helm, we pulled forward on the mooring to give us some momentum and then drifted slowly to the harbour entrance without having to row.

Once outside we hardened up to head out into the bay and did find a bit more wind but decided not to venture too far out in case it dropped and we had to row back.

In the event the wind held, though never more than F2, and conditions were ideal for learning the art of dipping the lug.

After instruction and demonstration from Scott and Paul W, both David and Paul E soon got the hang of it. So we did lots of tacks and gybes to practice.

Eventually it was time to head back in (Paul W on the helm), the wind was typically flukey outside the harbour entrance, but once past the entrance we managed to sail to within about 30 yards of the mooring when, having been headed again, we dropped the fore lug and rowed in the rest of the way.

All ashore just after 19.00.

Scott.

31/08/2025

Jumbo Sail Sunday 24 August

Twelve members mustered at the Lodge at 4pm and we divided up into two crews :

Celeste: Nigel and Sharon S, Michelle D, Pam R, Paul W Chris F.

William Paynter: Scott, Tom, Sam & Benjamin Paul & Jo C. (Paul a fifth generation direct descendant of William Paynter)

Wind Southerly generally about F3. Sunny.

Both crews scullied out to the jumbos.

WP was ready to slip the moorings first but an unfortunate gust caught her at just the wrong moment so that, instead of heading off on the port tack as planned towards West Pier, she found herself first head to wind and then heading towards Smeaton’s Pier.

This required both oars to be brought into action and after gaining a bit of ground directly into the wind, she was paid off onto the original course and cleared the end of West Pier quite comfortably, tacking just beyond it and sailing aback on the other tack towards the end of Smeaton’s Pier.

However, realising we wouldn’t clear it we then tacked again and then, after a further tack, were able to sail out through the roads, avoiding the large number of self drive boats milling around off the harbour entrance, and out to open water.

Celeste came out behind us and before hoisting their fore lug, they rowed a lot further (about to the harbour entrance) so that they avoided a lot of the tacking WP had to do.

Once out, as still sailing aback, WP wore round to get everything straight and then did a proper “dipping” tack to head out into the bay.

Paul now took over the helm and we laid a course in the general direction of Godrevy with Celeste following some way astern. This was a lovely fine reach and with the boat sailing so nicely it was a bit of a wrench to tack round to head back.

Once round, Benjamin took over the helm and we had a lovely reach heading back in the general direction of Carbis bay before there was a significant wind shift which required us to alter course towards Porthminster Point.

All the time Celeste following some distance astern. At this stage, Sam took over the helm and ably steered us back to the mooring followed now, a bit more closely, by Celeste.

After packing up the boats, both crews were then scullied ashore to land on the beach by the slip, and the two punts scullied back to their running moorings.

All ashore after some lovely sailing at about 18.45.

Scott

31/08/2025

Jumbo Sail Saturday 23 August

Six members met at the lodge at 15.30 on a sunny afternoon: Michelle D Juliet & Rebecca S, Jim F, Joe W& Scott B.

Wind mostly F1 from the north, maybe F2 in gusts and none at other times. Sea calm.

Everyone having been warned in advance that, from the forecast, there might be no wind and activity would then be limited to scullying and practicing “dipping the lug” on the mooring in the harbour, we were pleased to find a gentle breeze and, after scullying out to WP, we rigged her to sail out of the harbour on a port gybe with Michelle at the helm.

Once clear of the harbour entrance, we headed up to sail out through the roads and on into the bay but never went too far away bearing in mind the possibility of having to row back.

So we spent a very pleasant couple of hours out on the water sailing to and fro with Juliet, and then Joe, taking the helm before heading back into the harbour and picking up the mooring after only having to row the last couple of boat's lengths.

It was nice also to see Maia out, three up, and just visible behind Juliet in the photo.

All ashore shortly after 6pm.

Scott

20/08/2025

Friday 15th Aug Jumbo Sailing Report
Celeste.
Forecast: NE 2-3
Jonny, Dave E, Tony G + Lily, Justin P + Chris

6 of us met at 9.30 on a bright morning - but no wind!
As Dave E, a new member, had come especially from Bude and all were new to jumbo-sailing, we decided to to get afloat at the very least.

Justin and Chris, having joined us at the last minute, agreed to go out in my punt instead so that, should any wind come, Celeste would be lighter and have a better chance of sailing.

Justin had an introduction to sculling as both punts made their way out to the moorings. By the time we arrived he was already making steady progress.

Following the safety briefing, we made her ready and everyone had the opportunity to attach the foresheet to the clew and familiarise themselves with the rig including dipping the lug whilst on the mooring.

Making use of brief NE'ly 'air', we finally cast off forward and, hoisting the forelug aback, bore away. Once clear of the jet ski raft ahead, we let go aft and slowly completed the gybe to follow Scott in Maia out of the harbour.

Outside, once more becalmed, we dropped the forelug and before long everyone had mastered the basics of scullying a jumbo and I had the opportunity of trying out the new oar sweep and rowing position for the first time. Scott meanwhile had given up and had scullied home.

Then, just as I was wondering what we might try next, a faint NE'ly sprang up. Up with the forelug and we were off! It was all the more exhilarating in contrast to the calm. Taking the helm, Lily put us through a number of real gybes and tacks off Mester Point which were just as efficient as with a regular crew.

Dave then took the helm and we returned to the harbour to allow plenty of time to get ashore. Spilling wind then dropping the forelug, Dave approached under the mizzen before finally bringing us to a stop alongside our punt.

Everyone seemed to have had a great time despite the lack of wind. It was infinitely easier, and evidently more effective, to introduce a new crew to the jumbo in these conditions. So skippers, if there are newcomers on your crew list, don't cancel an outing simply owing to lack of wind.

NB. Our windward course back to our mooring took us by the end of Smeaton's Pier which we approached warily. I had already explained that the tripper boats had a tendency to come astern around this blind corner at some speed but are supposed to give the 3 blast warning signal first.

As the view of the steps opened up I could see a tripper boat already coming astern and shouted to warn them. They paused and we passed by comfortably. I asked about the sound signal which the skipper claimed to have made (yet we hadn't heard anything despite listening for one). Perhaps to save face in front of his boatload of trippers, he expressed the view that we had no right to be there.

A couple of points to bear in mind:
1. The sound signals may not be loud or strident enough.
2. Some tripper boat skippers clearly assume they have right of way and are not maintaining a proper lookout.

Jonny

19/08/2025

More lovely photos from the evening sail on Tuesday 12th August, these from Nigel Stevens...