Although Good Friday boating goes back 100 years, its origins are believed to be far older – up to 1,500 years old.  Local fishing communities sailed miniature boats into the sea as an offering to placate the storm gods and ask for safe passage.

This tradition continued for many centuries, according to records, taking place at Cock Bank Pool – a large sea pool, which ran between Smeaton’s Pier to Pedn Olver. Only when this pool and the spit of sand disappeared did the boating move to the engine pools of Wheal Speed and Consols.

This gradual transition was also influenced by the moving of people to the top of town.  In 1930 the ‘popular pastime of sailing model yachts’ took place both in the harbour and ‘the pond at Hellesveor’ where the sluice gates had been closed to allow water to collect for the occasion.

The following year West Cornwall Model Yacht Club were granted permission to use the Bussow Reservoir on Good Friday for the event before settling at Consols where it is now firmly established.

View a video of the Good Friday Boating Tradition