The Tall Ships parade of sail in Falmouth planned for Friday afternoon has been cancelled.

Organisers said it had been a "difficult decision" but was made after forecasts of "deteriorating weather conditions".

The parade was due to involve hundreds of boats escorting the tall ships along the coast past Pendennis headland and Falmouth's beaches.

In a statement, Richard Gates, on behalf of Falmouth Tall Ships organising group and Paul Bishop, race director of The Tall Ships Races Magellan-Elcano, said: “It is with great regret that, due to the adverse and continually deteriorating weather conditions, all of the organisations and partners involved in The Tall Ships Races Magellan-Elcano have made the difficult decision to cancel all Parade of Sail arrangements on Friday, August 18.  

“In addition, The Magellan-Elcano Race Start, will now be a virtual race start at sea on Saturday, August 19.   

“Arranging and delivering a public event of this size and spectacle, both on land and at sea, requires contributions from multiple organisations, including the emergency services, to ensure the safety of all involved. 

“After evaluating all possible alternatives, it is the safety requirement and the welfare of the vessel crews that have been the foremost considerations when making this collective decision.   

T”he Magellan-Elcano Tall Ships Race is a multi-port event, and this decision is also vital to enable ships and their crews to arrive in A Coruña in good time. 

“The team has taken a multitude of weather forecasts for both Friday and Saturday into careful, professional consideration. Ships will now be departing individually on Saturday, dependent upon the dynamic weather conditions and safety considerations for the ships and their crews.   

“The team recognises the bitter disappointment that will be experienced by everyone involved and invested in Falmouth Tall Ships. This includes the public, the crews, the local businesses, the sponsors and supporters, the volunteers and liaison officers, and everyone who has played a vital part in organising this impressive showcase within Cornwall’s historic port town. 

“We hope that everyone affected by this decision will understand and appreciate the circumstances which have led to it.”