When we first heard about the 'Old Gaffers' we thought it was a meeting of elderly gentlemen...turns out it is an annual festival held in the harbour town of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight to celebrate old boats with a 'gaff' rig - that's where the main sail has four sides rather than the triangles you see on most modem boats. The 'gaff' is the wooden pole across the top of the sail. Since the times of Charles I, yachts and fishing boats have favoured the gaff rig.
Below: view as you walk into Yarmouth
Below: Yarmouth high street
Below: Yarmouth harbour during Old Gaffers Festival
The Old Gaffers Association was set up in 1963 to promote gaff rig sailing and the festival this year, which is run by them, was to celebrate fifty years of the Old Gaffers Association. The harbour is full of classic and gaff-rigged boats and they race during the festival. There is also street entertainers, live music, stalls and more. Here are our pictures from this year's event and if you are on the Isle of Wight next June we recommend you visit the festival.
Below: boats in Yarmouth harbour during the Old Gaffers Festival
Below: musician Denzil McNeelance at the Old Gaffers Festival - he played Spanish guitar on the pier and saxophone with The Nick Cane Band
Below: The Nick Cane Band
Below: the Bournemouth Carnival Band dressed as Spiderman...as you do
Below: band The Crew who played shanties and sea songs
Below: band State of Undress
Below: street entertainers
Below: man with parrot on shoulder (no idea) and another dressed as the Cookie Monster...
Below: the Lovely's Vintage Emporium pooch Miss Polar Dog enjoyed her day out...
Cheers!
Love Lovely x
