Traditional Sailing Boats
Cornish Maritime Trust
Dedicated to the preservation, education and enjoyment of Cornwall’s maritime heritage
Support the Cornish Maritime Trust
Your generosity ensures these vessels continue to grace the waters of Falmouth, Mount’s Bay and beyond.
Barnabas, Soft Wing, Ellen, Silver Stream
Historic Working Boats
We preserve Cornwall’s maritime heritage by maintaining and sailing working vessels from the days of sail. We work to educate people about our maritime heritage, to train people in the skills associated with sailing, restoration and maintenance, and to share our enjoyment of sailing these unique boats.
Sail with us!
Join the Trust
By becoming a member of the Cornish Maritime Trust, you will be joining a community and helping to preserve Cornwall’s extraordinary maritime heritage.
Barnabas
Barnabas is the only survivor from St Ives of the thousand-strong fleet of lug rigged seine and drift net fishing boats registered at Cornish ports at the end of the 19th century.
National Historic Ships
Barnabas is proudly awarded
Flagship 2025 status
by National Historic Ships UK
Why This History Matters
EDUCATION
The Cornish Maritime Trust welcomes people of all ages and experience levels to step aboard and learn.
We aim to encourage all age groups from the local community to learn about the history of and sail our traditional boats; thereby keeping alive the skills require to sail and maintain this historic fleet.
Being custodians of our living heritage
PRESERVATION
Historic traditional wooden boats by their nature need constant maintenance and a particular way of sailing and handling. As a Trust we are dedicated to passing on the skills needed to preserve this way of sailing and the boats we sail in.
Recording and passing on skills
TRAINING
From basic seamanship to mentoring you through RYA qualifications and all aspects of maintenance, the Trust provides access to training and practical experiences for people of all ages.
Building a Community of Traditional Boat Sailors & Enthusiasts
COMMUNITY
The Cornish Maritime Trust is more than a heritage organisation—it is an active part of a thriving community of sailors, volunteers, historians, craftspeople, and maritime enthusiasts. While based in Cornwall we are part of a community that stretches across the UK and far beyond.
The Trust
Projects
Artist In Residence
Internationally renowned, award-winning artist, Vicki Norman is a keen sailor and CMT’s Artist in Residence.
Vicki is dedicating her year’s residency with CMT to capturing life and heritage skills aboard the Trust’s historic boats which grace local waters.
Barnabas and Softwing Maintenance
We are planning renovations and maintenance and applying for the funding to renovate Barnabas and Softwing so they can be sailed by the next generation of Trust members.
National Historic Ships
National Historic Ships and the Trust are working together to document all aspects of sailing a "lug rig" vessel. By sharing these skills, we will help preserve the knowledge of how to sail luggers.
Newlyn Harbour
&
Old Quay
As Barnabas and Silver Stream are moored in the Old Quay in Newlyn Harbour, the Trust are part of the newlynoldharbour.co.uk group investigating how to make best use of one of the oldest harbours in the UK.