24 Mar 2012
Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival
The Old Gaffers Festival is Yarmouth’s chance to celebrate old fashioned sailing. It’s sometimes called a mini Cowes Week, but this isn’t really true as it’s a much smaller, local and less corporate.
So what is an Old Gaffer? Well it isn’t the old bloke who props up the corner of the bar, no, it’s an old fashioned, traditional yacht with a gaff rig. Like this:
Traditional 'Old Gaffer' yacht
During the festival there can be over 100 of these in the harbour as well as other visiting sailing, steam and motor vessels, many decked out in bunting and flags for the event. There is also racing . . . apparently.
On shore there is usally a good range of attractions to keep visitors entertained with food stalls, street artists, live music
and of course the beer tents.
This is one of the first festivals of the season and is usually well worth a visit. It’s also a bonus that Yarmouth is a walk or cycle ride from the Studio Apartment, so it’s possible to eat, drink, be merry and wander back along the old railway track.
Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival is from 25th to 27th May 2012