A legend of Falmouth’s sailing history has been restored and is back in the harbour, offering the opportunity to become a part of her story with an exhilarating day out on the water
Words Jenny Oldaker | Photography Cris Ioja
‘It can’t be done’ was the overriding reaction when Joel Edward set out his plan to restore a historic sailing yacht in just one year. And, given the state of the boat, the doubters had a point. ‘Silvio wasn’t remotely seaworthy when we took her on,’ admits Joel. ‘She had holes in the hull and the deck was compost. She’d last sailed in 2017 and had been lifted ashore to Mylor, up the river from Falmouth, where she sat out of the water for eight years, and over that time there was a lot of degradation.’
For a boat with such a distinguished history, this was a sorry situation. Silvio launched back in 1958, commissioned by Cornwall’s Boscawen family, and designed by renowned naval architect Robert Clark, who pronounced that: ‘She will always be the most beautiful boat in the harbour’.
And this sleek, sophisticated vessel wasn’t just made to be pretty – Silvio was designed for offshore racing, demonstrating her strength and speed in high-profile races, including twice competing in Fastnet, and becoming a well-loved fixture of Falmouth’s sailing landscape along the way. Sadly, her years of stagnation on shore meant that, at the time she went up for sale, it was difficult to imagine Silvio could ever sail again.
SEEING HER POTENTIAL
Yet Joel was able to see Silvio’s potential and, after he submitted his vision for the vessel to the family – along with a painstaking schedule of works to get her back in shipshape condition – he was granted permission to buy her. He set about putting this doyenne of the sea back together and, after a gruelling year of toil and countless hours pouring labour and love into his project, he was able to prove the naysayers wrong when he got Silvio back on the water not a day over schedule.
Her new lease of life goes to prove that a pedigree design (along with some passion and hard work) has the potential to endure. And today, after her few brief months back on the waves, Silvio has already done more than simply endure. She’s back on the racing scene – she took part in Falmouth Classics in 2025 and 2026 – and is (once again) a fixture of Falmouth Harbour.
‘Because Silvio has had a 68-year history here, we often get people approaching us with bright smiles, saying: “Oh, Silvio! I spent years sailing on this boat. I can’t believe she’s back in the water!”’ says Joel.
Even more thrilling for Silvio fans is the fact she is now available for private charters during the summer season, exclusive to St Michaels Resort, so it’s easier than ever to experience this icon of Falmouth’s sailing history at first-hand. Joel and first mate Hollie Pouncett are contagiously passionate about Silvio and the business of sailing, and – for locals and visitors alike – booking a day on the ocean with them makes for a unique immersion into the sailing heritage that’s so bound up with the town and its history. As Joel puts it: ‘You haven’t truly experienced Falmouth unless you’ve seen it from the sea.’
FOR ALL ABILITIES
This is why, during a stay at St Michaels Resort, I opt to join Joel and Hollie on the water to experience Silvio and get a compelling new perspective on Falmouth. With a woeful dearth of sailing experience, I’m not sure how I’ll fare, but the pair swiftly reassure me that all levels are catered for on board. They’re also keen for guests to get as involved as they like, whether that extends to helping man the sails or simply sitting back with a glass of fizz and watching the world go by.
Our departure from the harbour is smoothness itself, and despite the lack of sun and a persistent, atmospheric mist that shrouds the surrounding hills, it’s a perfect sailing day, with a brisk, consistent breeze that sees Silvio zipping through the waves as we leave the shelter of the harbour. Heading out to sea, the pace picks up, and the gentle heeling of the yacht adds to the sense of exhilaration. I’m even inspired to get a bit more hands-on and, spurred on by Hollie and Joel, I take the helm. The pair prove to be patient, encouraging teachers, allowing me time to get used to the feel of the boat and its astounding responsiveness. Even when I take us wildly off course, they offer gentle reassurance, allowing me to correct the route and carry on, which gives me a genuine glow of achievement.
Part of the beauty of the day is its sheer flexibility – Joel and Hollie are dedicated to tailoring the experience to the guests on board, and that goes beyond catering to different sailing abilities and inclinations – it also covers convivial conversation on board, including discussion about where to sail. As such, the day’s destination is in part down to the guests (though it is necessarily also dependent on the day’s wind angle and force). I opt for a jaunt to the Helford Estuary and the conditions are just right for a smooth, swift sail southwards. The journey time whizzes by – between chatting to Hollie and Joel, taking in the views of Cornwall’s rugged coastline and focusing hard on the route ahead while at the helm, time on the water passes quickly.
The wind dies down, and the waves lull to a gentle lapping as we enter the estuary and find a place to moor up. Conveniently, it’s lunchtime, so it’s time to pop the champagne and head to the galley to dine on smoked salmon bagels. Food always tastes better on the water, and the lunch is predictably exquisite (the Silvio team’s dedication to buying high-quality and local produce also helps in this regard).
SEA-GLIDING
Silvio’s rich heritage is even more pronounced below deck: Joel made a point of retaining as much of the original look as possible during his restoration, so there’s a real sense of treading in the footsteps of the seafarers of past decades. Vintage fittings and art depicting Silvio’s namesake (a champion 19th-century racehorse) are among the details that add to the sense of revisiting the yacht’s refined past.
The afternoon is spent speeding back to Falmouth, passing sea-gliding gulls and the odd fulmar as we course through the waves. Seals and dolphins are often spotted from Silvio’s deck too, but despite my constant, hopeful scanning of the ocean, today we’re not in luck.
Mooring up is as smooth as our departure, and on arriving back on land, I’m replete with a wind-beaten glow and a joyful sense of wellbeing – both side effects of a day out on the sea. The sense of exhilaration that comes from sailing can’t be overstated – add to this the experience of becoming a part of the ongoing story of a pedigree vessel that’s part of Cornish sailing history and the feeling is even more potent.
Joel’s hard work has paid off emphatically, and with Silvio now back out doing what she does best, he’s created the chance for a whole new generation to be bewitched by the charms of this Falmouth icon, and to enjoy an invigorating fresh perspective on the town from her distinguished deck.
To find out more about Silvio, go to sailingyachtsilvio.co.uk.
ST MICHAELS RESORT
Comfortable and refined, St Michaels Resort sits above Gyllyngvase (‘Gylly’) Beach in Falmouth, offering a warm welcome and comfortable base in the town. There’s a salubrious hydrothermal spa and acclaimed dining with coastal views here, too – both very welcome after a day out at sea.
The Falmouth Sailing Experience, exclusive to St Michaels Resort, offers guests the chance to spend a day out on the sea aboard Silvio as part of their stay. It costs from £125 per person (up to four guests per voyage).
A special three-night experience is also available, from £1,129; it consists of three nights’ accommodation at St Michaels Resort, breakfast each morning, a four-
course dinner in Brasserie on the Bay on the first evening, a two-hour hydrothermal experience at the spa and a full day’s (four hours) sailing on Silvio, with lunch on board. Book online at stmichaelsresort.com.
