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The summer is finally upon us and with it comes the annual delights of boat festivals up and down the country. The warmer weather and calmer seas offer the public a great opportunity to see some historic vessels and to explore the rich culture of the United Kingdom’s fishing and maritime history. One such event is the Bridlington Sailing Coble Festival which takes place again from Bridlington Harbour at end of July to celebrate and showcase one of the region’s traditional sailing vessels; the coble.
In this article, we take a look at the origins of the uniquely designed coble as well as cover all the information you need before attending the 2019 Bridlington Sailing Coble Festival.
A type of open, traditional fishing boat the coble hails from the North East coast of England. With a distinctive high bow and flat bottom, the coble was developed specifically for the type of waters fishermen needed to navigate in this region.
The flat bottom was a necessity for the types of beaches from which these boats would launch and would also provide easy landing onto shallow ground. The coastline in this region (Hull to Burnmouth) has little protection from stormy weather but the coble can take advantage of the many inlets and wide bays to see shelter.
Reminiscent of the Norse fishing boats, the coble’s design is Dutch in origin but has been regionally adapted by local craftsmen to suit the demands of the waters. In fact, a Scottish version of the coble that is broader beamed and far shallower can be seen in beaches in Angus where they are employed for salmon-fishing.
The design dates back to the Lindisfarne Gospels of the 7th century and were an ideal inshore fishing boat. However, the Bridlington coble were much bigger than other vessels along the coast and were around 38-40ft in length. And, it is their size (or more specifically their capacity) that made them popular in the Victorian times and during the early to mid-20th century.
Like many coastal towns in the North East, Bridlington experienced a boom in popularity during this time as the era of the seaside resort grew to prominence.
During the summer months, fisherman could easily adapt their vessels to offer tourists day trips out to sea and postcards of this time show the local cobles ferrying vast numbers of passengers.
Modern versions of the coble still exist though most have now been fitted with diesel engines, however it is the traditional sailing coble which features a distinctive dipping lug and fore sails. It is these types of vessel that will be on display at the Bridlington Sailing Coble festival this summer.
Now in its fourth year, the Bridlington 'Sailing Coble Festival' is an opportunity to witness the largest gathering of this unique kind of festival, anywhere in the world.
Around a dozen cobles that have been restored and put back to sail will be on show as well as other sailing or traditional vessels, including:
Several of the cobles will make a journey from other parts of the UK, including Christina from Mevagissey, Grace from Staithes, Avail from Henley-on-Thames and Royal Diadem from South Shields.
The festival, which takes place from the Bridlington harbour is expected to attract a few thousand visitors who can enjoy a variety of music and entertainment harbourside. Sparking nostalgia in those people who remember the heyday of the coble at Bridlington, the event has proved very popular in its three-year history so far.
The Harbour Heritage Museum will also be open all weekend to offer more information about the work of the Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society (BSCPS) whose job it is to promote the history of these traditional boats and to preserve the area’s own historic vessels; three sailing cobles named:
All three cobles are moored at Bridlington harbour and have been lovingly restored and cared for by the BSCPS.
The museum itself has a great selection of exhibits including works of art, harbour history models, historic photographs and nautical artefacts. There is also a souvenir shop on site.
Built in 1912 by Baker and Percy Siddall of Bridlington and put to use as both a fishing vessel and to offer trips for tourists to the area, The Three Brothers was purchased and restored in 1983.
The coble is a familiar site to locals in the area as it takes to the waters around Bridlington Bay. It has even been featured in the ITV series, Ade at Sea. The show, presented by Ade Edmondson, explored the UK’s maritime past and focused on people whose lives are still influenced by these associations today.
Permanently moored in Bridlington, The Three Brothers has even been paid a royal visit when Prince Charles came to the harbour in 2013 with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall.
Acquired by the BSCPS in 2015 and moored with The Three Brothers, The Gratitude was built in the 1970s by Hector Handyside of Amble. Part funded by the English Tourist Board, she was intended to be a floating museum.
Launched in 1976, The Gratitude served as a tourist attraction for a number of years before falling into some disrepair. She was purchased by Mr. Alan Richmond of Scarborough and was completely restored. Brought back to life, she featured in the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
Purchased by the BSCPS in 2017 and built locally by John Clarkson and Joe Gelsthorpe of Bridlington in 2014, The Gansey Lass is named for the hardwearing knitted jumper traditionally worn by fishermen. A bronze sculpture, depicting a young girl knitting a gansey, can be seen on the north pier at Bridlington and forms part of the Maritime Trail.
This two-day event will take place on Saturday 27th July and Sunday 28th July 2019 between 9.00am and 4.00pm.
Entry to the festival is free as is entry to the Harbour Heritage Museum; however, donations are gratefully received and are put to use by the BSCPS in the maintenance of their historic vessels.
For further details on the festival plus details of how to donate to, or become a member of, the Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society, please visit the Bridlington Harbour website.
