The National Maritime Museum, Cornwall is organising coastline cruises on a classic oyster dredger throughout the summer.

Twice a day, you can join a 90-minute sailing cruise of the Falmouth coastline aboard the 24ft traditional Truro Tiver oyster dredger,Softwing(pictured).

Designed to be operated by one man,Softwingwas built at Yard Point, Penpol Creek in 1900 by Frank Hitchens. A working boat for sixty years, she was used to dredge the oyster beds at the northern end of the harbour, later being adapted for shark fishing, before sadly laying disused and deteriorating for a number of years.

In 1994 she was bought by the Cornish Maritime Trust and, using Heritage Lottery Funding, was restored and equipped to her present condition, sailing with members of the Trust to demonstrate how she was operated by past generations.

Trips depart from the Museum’s pontoon at 12pm and 2pm for Saturday sailings in June and September, and Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout July and August.

Tickets cost £20. Please call 01326 214550 for bookings.