The Port of Falmouth Sailing Association has a new Chair, Gaye Slater

Gaye Slater is new Chair of the Port of Falmouth Sailing Association © Ian Symonds

The Port of Falmouth Sailing Association has a new Chair. We are very pleased to announce that Gaye Slater will now be at the helm, with Jane Wright as her Vice Chair.

Gaye was born in Kenya into a family of avid sailors and her first experiences of sailing were in dinghies in much warmer climes including Lakes Victoria and Naivasha and the Indian Ocean! She qualified as a teacher at Southampton University at the same time as enjoying sailing around the Hamble River and Solent. Gaye then worked and sailed on puddles around North London but found she missed the sea and so headed to Cornwall.

A qualified RYA Senior Sailing Instructor, Gaye introduced her pupils to the joys of sailing whilst teaching modern languages at Poltair School in St Austell. She headed up the schools' area sailing association.

Gaye has been involved in crewing on half tonners and a Corby 25. Having taken part in nearly every Falmouth Sailing Week since 1981 and in club racing around Falmouth, more recently on a Sonata and the Nordic Folkboat, Aries.

More recently she has served as the Hon Secretary of both PoFSA and Flushing Sailing Club; Gaye was also the second woman to be Commodore of the latter, driving forward the building of the now iconic clubhouse on Flushing New Quay.

Gaye writes: "We have been fortunate to have had Nigel Sharp as Chairman of PoFSA for the last 5 years during some quite challenging times. Under his guidance the Association has grown in strength, not the least being gaining the RYA Event of the Year Award as we came out of Covid restrictions. Happily for us, Nigel will continue to be involved as Race Officer in the Carrick Roads Fleet.

"I hope that my previous roles have given me full insight into my new position as well as some useful experience to offer PoFSA and look forward to continuing Nigel's good work. I have been lucky enough to have sailed in the amazing waters around Falmouth for 40 years and most of this has been racing. Being able to participate in Falmouth Sailing Week each year became essential to my survival among the rigours of a life spent in teaching.

"You may wonder what has kept my interest going after all this time. Well, you never really know what you are going to get, especially weather-wise. In 2022 we drifted and swam, in 2023 we went from feeling our way to the windward mark to being blown out in the Carrick Roads on the Saturday. The only constants are the 6 clubs that make up PoFSA and the dogged volunteers who turn out each year to run the event. I personally feel that one of the delights and good fun aspects of Falmouth Sailing Week is visiting the other clubs and sampling their hospitality.

"Although the prime function of PoFSA is to run Falmouth Sailing Week, and that is no small undertaking, the monthly FSW Organising Committee Meetings offer regular opportunities for Sailing Secretaries to swap stories and information. In addition, we provide a forum for other meetings, such as the Village Regatta Committees. The Port Sailing Calendar, a website and social media all serve to showcase sailing in our amazing port."