ALL ABOARD FOR SEAFAIR MILFORD HAVEN 2008

Traditional craft enthusiasts from around the UK and Europe are being invited to take part in a major week-long festival next year which will celebrate the maritime history of Pembrokeshire.

Sea Fair Milford Haven 2008 takes place from 18-25th June 2008, taking advantage of over 22 miles of sheltered navigable waterway offering 24-hour access for all sizes of vessels.

Event organisers say the event should fit in conveniently within the internal traditional boat and tall ships calendar for next year.

They hope that entrants in the tall ships races in the Mediterranean, finishing at end of May and heading North for either the Amada Rouen from 5th to 14th July, Brest from 11th to 17th July or Liverpool for the tall ships race on 18th July, will see Milford Haven as a natural transit stop. The event is also convenient for boats that are planning to attend Yarmouth, Isle of Wight Old Gaffers in the first week of June.

Classic craft ranging from tall ships to Thames skiffs will be welcomed to West Wales for SeaFair Milford Haven 2008. It follows on from the hugely successful inaugural Seafair Haven, held in the stunning 22 miles of waterway during 2006, in which nearly 100 classic and traditional craft dating from 1898 to the present day from Brittany, Germany, UK and Ireland “raided” Haven communities, interspersed with races and expeditions to Pembrokeshire’s offshore islands and many opportunities for land-based visitors to view them at close range.

The vessels taking part were split into four classes - Sail and Oar, Old Gaffers, Classic Bermudan and Large Traditional. All vessels and their 400 crew were hosted during the Festival by local communities and the various yacht clubs on the waterway and highlights including evenings spent moored below Pembroke castle, the birth place of Henry Tudor, joining in with local festivals and events, cruises in company and exploring the small villages and harbours along the 22 miles of waterway.

The oldest boats present were the 1898 Playmate, a Poole harbour fishing boat, Grey Dawn, a 1901 Colin Archer, Grace, a 1903 Mevagissy Pilchard Fisher, and the pilot cutters, Peggy 1903, Mascotte 1904 and Olga 1909. The Irish Famine replica Dunbrody on her first international voyage was joined by the Kaskelot and the Earl of Pembroke.

The event will be hosted by Milford Haven Port Authority in its 50th anniversary year. Its chief executive, Ted Sangster, said that the event would be bigger and better than the first one, and that it was intended it would take place every other year in future.

“We are very excited to be announcing this second festival,” said Richard Palmer, Chairman of the event committee. “We are confident that, next year, and in the years to come, the Haven will play host to more people, more boats, more events and more fantastic memories than the first time around.”

Clubs and enthusiasts interested in taking part can get more information and an application pack from the event office on 01646 696371/2 or from Milford Haven Port Authority on 01646 696100 / enquiries@mhpa.co.uk

Click here to listen to the podcast