Certain prizewinners at the Looe Lugger Regatta were given special mementos for the first time in the history of the popular event.

Looe Town Council has traditionally presented commemorative plaques to all visiting boat skippers but never before have the parade winners received keepsakes for their efforts.

The idea was the brainchild of Cornish Lugger Association members David Darlington and Mike Berry, both of whom have long associations with the regatta.

David, who now lives at Pensilva but has strong family links with the luggers through vessels like Our Daddy and Deu Kerens, sourced some leftover iroka wood from the engine bed of Andrew Rowe’s former Falmouth working boat, Muriel, while Polperro-based Mike, who owns the Polperro gaffer, Maggie, used his boatbuilding and carpentry skills to upcycle them into distinctive winners’ plaques.

Working at evenings and weekends, he produced one-off mementoes engraved with the lugger association logo and class details. 

Mike, who learned his trade at the Toms yard in Polruan and now sub-contracts working closely with his friend and fellow skipper Andrew Rowe’s APR Marine Fabrications in Plymouth, said: “I’m glad the skippers really liked them. 

“They are rather unique and I don’t think you could put a price on them really. It was just a little something for the skippers to take away and I’m pleased they were well received.’

The lugger regatta has been held at Looe across more than 30 years.