Consols Pond, St Ives, Cornwall

For around ninety years the families of St Ives have enjoyed the tradition of sailing model boats at Consols Pond on Good Friday.

The tradition began in the early 1900s, when fisherman and children sailed model boats in the town's harbour. It is thought to be a gesture to the old seafaring communities which used to launch miniature boats in the hope of ensuring safe passage for mariners.

Tuesday 30 March 2010

ONE YEAR ON!!!


Is it really a year since the disappointment of Good Friday with no boats on Consols Pond? The time seems to have flown by. Of course, much work has gone on behind the scenes and tons of silt have been removed, in order to ensure that sailing boats can once again skim across the water on Good Friday.
Although the forecast for Friday doesn't look too good, please don't be put off - the Pond is ready and waiting for this important local tradition to continue.
Please remember to keep a close eye on your children and take care yourselves, the banks are quite steep and slippery in places. So come along and enjoy this truly local event. Hope you have a great time!

Friday 19 March 2010

Get your boats out and dust them off!


With only two weeks to go, if you haven't already got your model boats out and checked them over, now would be a good time!


After all the disappointment of last Easter and all the hard work that's gone into getting the pond cleared and ready for action, it would be great to see plenty of boats on the water on Good Friday.
(Picture taken by Brian Stevens - 1961)


Hope to see you then!



Thursday 11 March 2010

Counting down to Good Friday!


Only three weeks to go to Good Friday!
After the disappointment and frustration of last year, how wonderful it will be to see boats sailing on the pond this Easter!!!
Don't forget, if you have a boat, get it out now and check it over so that it's ready for Good Friday!
The Chapel will be selling refreshments and Hot Cross buns (cold) proceeds to the Chapel fund, and there will also be a cake stall to raise more funds for Consols Pond Association - So don't forget to bring some change.
Hope to see you all there!

Thursday 4 March 2010

Wow! Isn't Mother Nature wonderful!!!


I was up at the pond this afternoon and gazing into the water, I was amazed to see that there is already spawn - in fact, two different kinds of spawn in the pond. Isn't Mother Nature wonderful, it's only been three weeks and with such major disturbance of the pond, it's great to know that wildlife is already finding its way back.
(This image is not of our pond!)

Please, please, can everyone get their boats ready for Good Friday? As we couldn't sail them last year it would be great to have as many as possible on the water this year!