A Truro tradition - Truro Boating Association’s winter lift
Monday 2nd November, 2026
It’s a misty Sunday morning, but there’s a buzz in Truro Boatyard at Lighterage Quay, towards the far end of Newham Road. Owners are gathered in hi vis and hard hats, jolly banter alternating with more serious “toolbox talk”. A crane is in place for a hard day’s work, courtesy of their Newham neighbour Macsalvors.
The river is a picture of calm. One boat sits alongside the jetty, while in the distance another approaches serenely from the wooded area near Malpas. In between, an unfortunate vessel is in the ignominious position of being temporarily trapped in mudflats, awaiting the coming high tide.
This is the annual winter boat lift, carried out during neap tide over a three-day weekend in October. In total, around 45 boats will be hoisted out of the water and slotted into the yard in a meticulous maritime version of Tetris.
A vessel named Twist Magic swings gently above the boatyard, a bevvy of yellow-clad owners beneath preparing to rest her, prop her and wedge the props firmly. Someone asks: “All good? Everyone happy?” A chorus of approval, and she’s unhooked and settled for winter.
It’s a convivial affair, with everyone mucking in as yard crew, and plenty of coffee, cake and bacon sandwiches being served from a shipping container. Its all in the tradition of the club itself - Truro Boating Association (TBOA) was established in 1973 to protect the interests of the boating community and preserve the estuary, rivers and foreshore. Today, it has 143 members and has leased the Newham boatyard for 20 years, where it continues to provide affordable facilities to local sailors, many of whom have moored during the fairer months in Malpas or Mylor, Falmouth and Percuil.
The event is planned and overseen by the club’s yard manager Chris Rowe, who refers to a strict timetable of lifting (around 20 minutes per vessel) and a photo of a meticulous paper mock-up of all the boats in place in the yard – rather like a maritime version of Tetris. Space is “optimised”, which is a euphemism for “tight”. “They are a bit like sardines – there’s not much room to spare,” says Chris, a former accountant who looks after the club’s finances. He’s working closely with gig builder Andrew Nancarrow; other owners include a former lifeboatman and even ex-tourism chief Malcolm Bell, who describes the event as “a Truro tradition”.
A former operations manager in the gas industry, Mike Martin owns Soundwaves, an Oyster 435. “Conditions are absolutely perfect today,” he says. “Zero wind, plenty of water. Timing is critical - you can easily go aground.”
In their sailing heyday, Mike and wife Brid would happily sail across the Channel to France for three months, but Mike’s triple heart bypass means they tend to stick to a few days at a time.
Laying up over winter will give them the chance to carry out maintenance work, including new floors in the cabin and fixing the heads (maritime speak for “loo”).
The club is keen to welcome younger members who can cope with the physical nature of yard work and keep the tradition alive.
Jack Ollington, 38, lives in Falmouth but moors his boat Sweet Friday in Truro. “When you’re young and buying your first home and trying to set up your life, you can be priced out of sailing, especially around here,” he said.
“You can pick up a boat pretty cheaply, but getting it out of the water and into storage for winter is critical. That’s where TBOA is great, as it’s affordable and helps people who might not otherwise be able to do this.”
“It’s the best club in the water – sociable, everyone together,” says former Newquay lifeboatman Dan Beckerleg. He and wife Zoe bought Three Maids from a previous club member several years back and watched her hoisted into place on Sunday. “It was faultless – flawless,” he said. “It was pretty to watch. You can’t help but worry when she’s flying through the air on a couple of slings, but it never goes wrong.”
Unsurprisingly, it’s here you’ll hear the most opposition to plans for the bridge connecting Lighterage Quay with Boscawen Park. There are concerns the swing design will impact ease of access to the quay for club members; some have written letters and many are keen to discuss it with a visiting journalist.
But for the time being, thoughts turn to winter jobs. In April, all this will happen again but in reverse, as the boats re-enter the water for the next season’s sailing.
Truro Boating Association www.tboa.org.uk
