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| A Pearl from the Oyster |
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Page 1 of 3 Richard Lumb and Glen Hampson discover a gem by the Helford River Driving into this picturesque Cornish village of Port Navas reveals a view of the Helford River that inspires even on this cold winter’s day. Port Navas, while not the largest village in Cornwall, certainly has tremendous appeal. Yet it is a village that is not easy to get to for those who don’t drive; the nearest bus service is in Constantine, around three miles away. With only around 100 people on its electoral roll (including nearby farms), it remains a close-knit community despite the small percentage of houses unoccupied at this time of year. According to the manager of the yacht club, Peter Goad, it is around ’20 per cent holiday lets in the village and 80 per cent local people’ although those who do come into the village ‘mix well with the locals’, something which we hear from several sources.  A view across the Helford from Port Navas. Picture by Sam Morgan Moore. www.westcountryphotographers.com The Yacht Club is the place where people tend to mix. It is the only licensed premises in the village for serving drinks and everyone who lives in Port Navas is a member. It is open three days a week even at this time of the year, giving the locals somewhere to socialise. It is also the place for friendly social boating, there is little competition here, but there are certainly members who are not interested in the boating itself. It is not the best day for yachting when we arrive, with ice around the river on this particularly cold day. The birds are flying over the river though; keen to get food where they can. We are told by the yacht club’s owner, Adam Gardner, how the river gets shallow at low tide which would obviously limit access by river. However, people do sail in from Falmouth on occasion. The major event of the year is the regatta during the summer, where the sailing gets a bit more competitive. The regatta events include the likes of a treasure hunt and there is certainly an emphasis on fun. |
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