IT’S rare to see boats flying through the air, but over three days, that’s exactly what happened at Lighterage Quay on Newham Industrial Estate, as the members of Truro Boating Association (TBOA) gathered for their annual winter lift.

Around 45 boats were craned out of the Truro River on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and were slotted into the boatyard with the help of neighbouring business MacSalvors. Vessels sailed in on the neap tide from Mylor and Malpas to take their winter moorings, enabling owners to carry out vital maintenance.

TBOA was established in 1973 to protect the interests of the boating community and preserve the estuary, rivers and foreshore. Today, it has 143 members and has leased the Newham boatyard for 20 years.

It continues to provide affordable facilities to local sailors, all of whom don hi-vis and hard hats and muck in twice a year, getting the boats out of the water in October and back in again in April.

The event is planned and overseen by club treasurer Chris Rowe, who refers to a strict timetable of lifting (around 20 minutes per vessel) and a photo of a meticulous paper mock-up of all the boats in place in the yard – rather like a maritime version of Tetris. “They are a bit like sardines – there’s not much room to spare,” he said.

Jack Ollington, 38, lives in Falmouth but moors his boat Sweet Friday in Truro. “When you’re young and buying your first home and trying to set up your life, you can be priced out of sailing, especially around here,” he said.

“You can pick up a boat pretty cheaply, but getting it out of the water and into storage for winter is critical. That’s where TBOA is great, as it’s affordable and helps people who might not otherwise be able to do this. The comunity spirit is also fantastic.”

Newquay lifeboatman Dan Beckerleg watched Three Maids being hoisted into place on Sunday, and helped a group in hi-vis settle her safely. “It was faultless – flawless,” he said. “It was pretty to watch. You can’t help but worry when she’s flying through the air on a couple of slings, but it never goes wrong.”