TRADITIONAL SAIL FESTIVAL RETURNS TO MILFORD HAVEN IN 2008

Organisers of a major festival for traditional craft being staged in West Wales next year have revealed that interest in the event is already high following its official launch in France.

Seafair Milford Haven 2008 is an exciting week-long festival being staged around the West Wales deep water estuary to celebrate the maritime history of Pembrokeshire.

Building on the success of an inaugural Seafair Festival in 2006, the event aims to attract traditional craft and seafarers from 18-25 June 2008, to experience 22 miles of sheltered sailing around the Haven, from the dramatic cliffs and sandy bays of the Dale peninsular to the quiet creeks of the Cleddau Rivers.

The festival was launched in France recently at the Morbihan Festival in Brittany, with which Seafair Milford Haven is affiliated with, when a group of delegates from Pembrokeshire were invited to set the scene for this Welsh event among a foreign audience. Organisers are also looking forward to a launch in Pembrokeshire later this year.

Over 100 classic and traditional craft, from gigs to square riggers, oar and sail, ‘raided’ Haven communities and enjoyed a week of on and off water events during Seafair Festival in 2006. Organisers expect the 2008 event will be an even greater success.

Races and expeditions to Pembrokeshire’s off-shore islands will take place throughout the festival and there will be many opportunities for land based visitors to view boats at close range.

Local communities will be invited to help organise waterside events each evening including live music and entertainment. Welsh food will also play a big part during the festival, giving locals a chance to show off the high standard of food from the region to visitors.

The event is being hosted by Milford Haven Port Authority as part of its 50th anniversary year activities. Ted Sangster, chief executive of the Authority said: “Seafair Haven 2008 is set to be a fantastic event for all involved. We received a great response in Morbihan and even got a number of boats signed up to come and enjoy the Pembrokeshire sailing experience. We are delighted to be able to support this event.”

Richard Palmer, Chairman of the Seafair 2008 festival committee, added: “We hope large numbers of traditional boat enthusiasts will join us next June to celebrate the spectacular Pembrokeshire coast and Haven waterway. We aim to make this a real community affair, giving local communities the chance to host different events each night to make boats and their crews feel really welcome. Preparations are going well so far and I for one cannot wait for Seafair Milford Haven 2008 to begin!”

For further information on Seafair Milford Haven or to register traditional craft regardless of size, age or rig visit www.seafairhaven.org.uk