From students to first-time sailors, a growing number of young people are discovering sailing in Falmouth as the club opens its doors to a new generation.
Flushing Sailing Club, one of Cornwall’s oldest sailing communities, is experiencing a noticeable rise in interest from young people as it works to make the sport more welcoming and accessible. What began more than a century ago as a club for local working people is now shaping itself around the next generation, hoping to keep its traditions alive long into the future.
Founded in 1921, the club was originally set up to give fishermen, crew members and local residents the chance to sail their own boats, something that, at the time, was usually reserved for wealthier boat owners across the water. That spirit of widening opportunity is still at the heart of the club today.
“We’re particularly interested in attracting younger people because they’re the future,” said Peter Harvey, Commodore of Flushing Sailing Club. “If we want the club to be here in another hundred years, we need the next generation to fall in love with the sport just like the older ones did.”
For many young people, sailing can seem out of reach, an expensive hobby usually for those with their own boats and extensive experience. But Flushing Sailing Club is actively breaking those barriers. One of the most effective changes has been the introduction of WhatsApp groups that allow skippers to match up with potential crew members.
“Boat ownership is expensive, but you don’t need your own boat to sail here,” Harvey explained. “Skippers can find crew, and people who’ve never sailed before can get out on the water for the first time.”
The system has opened the door to complete beginners, students, young professionals and anyone curious about trying the sport. As a result, participation has changed significantly.
On a typical Tuesday evening at the clubhouse, Harvey estimates that around 30 per cent of the sailors are now under 30, a huge shift compared with a decade ago. The mixture of students, new residents and young people from the surrounding villages has created a more vibrant, diverse community.
For many of those new members, the benefits go far beyond learning how to sail.
Izi Friend, a trustee at the club, says the rise in confidence is one of the most noticeable differences.
“Your confidence on the water completely changes,” she said. “Inside the club, everyone mixes together, it’s not young people at one end and older members at the other. Everyone just enjoys the experience together.”
Multi-generational sailors at Flushing Sailing club
Friend says that seeing young sailors develop their skills, work as part of a team and become regular members of the community is what makes her role so rewarding.
“Seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces, especially the younger sailors, is so rewarding,” she added. “It’s a real community that brings everyone together.”
The club hopes that by continuing to remove barriers, welcoming new members and bridging generational gaps, sailing in Falmouth will remain strong for many years to come. For Harvey, the message couldn’t be clearer.
“If you want to try sailing, there’s a place for you here.”
With more young people stepping aboard each season, Flushing Sailing Club is proving that sailing in Cornwall isn’t just about tradition, it’s about creating opportunities for the future.