Traditional wooden fishing vessels will set sail across Bridlington Bay this weekend as a free two-day maritime festival celebrates the region's rich coastal heritage.
The 2026 Bridlington Sailing Coble Festival will take place on Saturday, August 8th, and Sunday, August 9th. Organisers from the Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society have confirmed a packed schedule of sailing displays, live music, and traditional crafts.
Spectators will watch cobles and historic vessels sailing in the bay between 11:00 and 14:30 on Saturday, timed around a high water of 12:52. Sunday’s sailing will take place from 12:00 to 15:30, following a high water at 14:17.
The festival will showcase prominent local vessels maintained by the registered charity, which was established to promote the history and sailing of local cobles.
Festival-goers will see the 'Three Brothers', an historic 1912 sailing coble built in Bridlington by Baker and Percy Siddall as a fishing vessel and for tourist trips. Local boat builders John Clarkson and Joe Gelsthorpe totally restored the vessel in 2013.
The prominent coble has been featured by Ade Edmondson in ‘Ade at Sea’ and received a visit from Prince Charles in the same year. It has also appeared on BBC Countryfile, BBC Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, and in a promotional video for Hitachi Energy demonstrating wind power.
'The Gratitude' will also feature in the displays. Master boatbuilder Hector Handyside launched the vessel in 1976 for David Wharton of Whitby, who received grant aid from the English Tourist Board to build a floating museum.
Alan Richmond of Scarborough later purchased and completely restored 'The Gratitude', leading to its appearance in the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Pageant. The preservation society acquired the boat in February 2015.
The charity's fleet is completed by 'Gansey Lass', which was built at Bridlington Harbour in 2014 by John Clarkson and Joe Gelsthorpe, assisted by Malcolm Smales and volunteers. The society purchased it in 2017 using a grant from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme.
Live entertainment will run throughout both days at the Clough Hole Car Park stage and the harbourside. The musical lineup includes Jim and Lynette, the Ramshackle Shantymen, The Headlanders, the Hornsea Shanty Lasses, and Colleen's Fancy.
The Flamborough Sword Dancers junior team will perform on Sunday afternoon, accompanied by Jim playing music, with a final performance scheduled on the North Pier at 15:00.
Sunday morning's schedule features a formal presentation at the stage area. Gill Emmerson and Chris Wright will present commemorative certificates to owners and skippers, alongside the 'Steve Emmerson Memorial Award for Best Turned out Coble'.
Visitors will explore a variety of displays and stalls inside the Vessel Maintenance Facility exhibition hall at Clough Hole Car Park. Attractions include demonstrations of traditional crab and lobster pot making, alongside a photographic display of old Bridlington Harbour and local boats.
Stallholders include the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, Friends of the Chalk Tower Flamborough, and marine paint manufacturer Teal & Mackrill Ltd. Local artisans will also showcase their work, including Deb Gillanders of Propagansey with traditional fishermen's ganseys, Sam Deville's handmade pottery, and Little Miss Looter's Seaglass Creations.
The Harbour Heritage Museum will offer free admission throughout the weekend, providing a look into the town's maritime past.
Several local organisations are supporting the 2026 festival, including The Lord's Feoffees and Assistants of the Manor of Bridlington, Bridlington Harbour Commissioners, the Dogger Bank Windfarm Operator Fund, Wold Top Brewery, and Harrison Leisure.
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