There is an old song in the southwest of England, heralding back to Pagan times, that somebody or someone at one time wrote the words to that no one seems to remember. This song is known by all who have heard it once in the form of dun-dun-na-dun-na-na-na-na-na-na and so on or, alternatively, 1, 2, 3, Skip! 1, 2, 3, Skip! It is the Floral Dance.
On the Monday evening of Fowey Royal Regatta, after the working boats and racing boats arrive from Flushing into the old port town of Fowey, the children and women, and sometimes the men too, dress all in white with wreathes of flowers on their heads to parade through the town. They gather at the top of the town on the property of the family who owns have of Fowey and whom open their gates for just this occassion only once a year. The Regatta Queen and Attendants are announced. The procession forms a large queue. And then, the drums begin.
Showing posts with label Fowey Royal Regatta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fowey Royal Regatta. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, Tuesday
As you can probably tell by the sparatic nature of the blog this week, Fowey Royal Regatta was a busy week! And now I'm back 'home' to California in less than 12 hours. More time to write then, which I am looking forward to. For now, pictures from Regatta:
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Fowey Royal Regatta
Let me breakdown Fowey Royal Regatta for you, from a new arrival's perspective: for one week a year the sleepy, seaside, quaint, upscale, holiday village in Cornwall called Fowey turns into a raging dawn-to-dusk party. As The Galleon's staff shirt's say: 'Fowey is a drinking port...with a sailing problem.'
On the Sunday of Regatta Week, all the boats that will race throughout the week sail down to Flushing, cleaning their ships and drinking upon arrival to return back to Fowey the following morning--the working boats from Flushing following behind to join in the racing. At about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, walk up to the headlands or St. Catherine's castle and watch the fleet arrive in style--their spinnakers and spankers (sails) colorful in the wind. What ensues is sailing, drinking and debauchery.
But, I'll save that for tomorrow...
On the Sunday of Regatta Week, all the boats that will race throughout the week sail down to Flushing, cleaning their ships and drinking upon arrival to return back to Fowey the following morning--the working boats from Flushing following behind to join in the racing. At about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, walk up to the headlands or St. Catherine's castle and watch the fleet arrive in style--their spinnakers and spankers (sails) colorful in the wind. What ensues is sailing, drinking and debauchery.
But, I'll save that for tomorrow...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
