New Exhibition at National Maritime Museum: Surfing Hall of Fame

A recent refurbishment and the launch of a new exhibition to celebrate the history of surfing in Cornwall are among the many good reasons to visit the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, writes Sue Pelling.

Step into the main exhibition hall of the National Maritime Museum Cornwall (NMMC) in Falmouth and you are instantly engulfed by a huge wave of nostalgia with some of the most famous craft of our time hanging like model boats from rafters for all to see. These, together with remaining ‘flotilla’ that sit majestically at ground level, including the likes of Sir Ben Ainslie’s 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning Finn – Rita – are just a taster of what’s in store at this award-winning museum. 

Since it was opened in 2003 along the harbourside at Discovery Quay, the NMMC has become a popular and important attraction in Falmouth with over 120,000 visitors passing through the doors every year. In need of maintenance however, the museum has recently undergone essential work including replacing the entire roof, improving the drainage, and has upgraded its weatherproofing and insulation systems. Restored and reopened, the NMMC is as busy as ever as it prepares for the summer holiday season.

While there is no doubt the collection of  boats of regional, national and international importance that showcases and celebrates the role small boats have played in maritime history are the essential components of the museum and, they alone, are worthy of a visit, there is so much more to see as you make your way through the ‘labyrinth’ into different areas of interest over three levels.

The Galleries within the Tower (the imposing lighthouse-style landmark at the end of the building) are dedicated to education, including a Boatbuilding Workshop, and Bartlett Library on the ground floor, Children’s play zone on the Quarterdeck, plus the temporary exhibition space in the Bridge Gallery, and Learning Centre on Level 2.

One of the wonders of this museum is the glass-panelled Tidal Zone which is below sea level. Here, thanks to its robust design and four layers of  impact proof glass, you can experience a fascinating glimpse of what goes on beneath the waves at all states of the tide, and learn about the effects the moon and sun has on the tides. The Lookout – as its name implies – at the top of the 100ft Tower offers one of the best views of Falmouth Harbour.

The Boat Pool model yachting feature complete with wind machine is forever popular with all ages because you get the chance to put your sailing skills to the test without getting wet! If you are new to sailing, it is a great way to learn about the effects of the wind, and become familiar with some of the basic nautical terms.

Maritime Museum’s Main Event

The museum has been cleverly designed to allow you to view the Flotilla of craft (part of the National Small Boat Collection) that resides in the Main Hall from above, at eye level as well as from the ground, from the Flotilla Ramps. The Flotilla Ramps lead from one end of the museum (Tower Galleries) to the other end (Cornwall Galleries located above the museum main entrance and shop).

The National Small Boat Collection, which was originally developed by the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich and now grown into a collection of 160, represents boats from the UK and around the world including canoes, coracles, dinghies and tenders, punts, rowing boats, fishing craft, race boats, military vessels, hydroplanes, as well as Olympic winners and world record-breakers. Naturally the museum doesn’t have the capacity to display all 160 exhibits which means 100 of them are stored off site at a local boatyard and, from time to time, the Main Hall display is refreshed.

Although there are far too many boats in the collection to mention, it’s good to see iconic racing boats such Mirror No1 – a kit boat from the 1960s that could be built at home using stitch and glue method –  looking as good as new. Also the Uffa Fox-designed Firefly No1 Fa – one of the first production dinghies ever built in large numbers and selected for the singlehanded class in the 1948 Olympics. On the subject of the Olympics, a couple of fine exhibits not to be missed are the Olympic gold medal winning racing boats including Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – Rodney Pattisson’s Bob Hoare-built gold medal-winning Flying Dutchman, and the aforementioned Rita in which Ainslie won his fourth Olympic gold medal at London 2012.

The International 14 Thunder and Lightning – in the hands of Sir Peter Scott and John Winter – was (in 1938) the first boat to use a modern leather trapeze belt, which contributed to it winning the class national championship (Prince of Wales Cup) that year. Another dinghy of interest is Zander, which is a Water Wag (1886) and reputed to be the oldest one-design dinghy in the world.

The life-saving 2.8m dinghy tender Ednamair in which a family of six spent 21 days drifting in the Pacific after being ship-wrecked in 1971 is one exhibit that stops you in your tracks. It is the proof of a real-life ship wreck survival story that is quite remarkable and well worth spending a bit of time reflecting on. 

If you are speed enthusiast – Venter – a racing hydroplane dating from around 1937 is an interesting one. She was originally named Blue Ace and established world water speed and endurance records in 1937-38. Later she was used by Sir Donald Campbell as a fast tender for his Bluebird record attempts in the 1960s.

Surfing Exhibiton

Just in time for the summer season ahead, is the launch of Surf! – 100 years of Waveriding in Cornwall exhibition, which is a truly enlightening experience not just for hard-core surfers but for anyone with an interest in the sea.

Taking place just off the main hall, the entrance leads you into a lifesize, engulfing wave tunnel video complete with sound effects. The serene surfers’ paradise [main exhibition] beyond offers the ultimate scene-setter – an original fully-equipped 1970s VW camper van which takes centre stage. From here, explore a century of surfing in Cornwall with an array of artefacts sourced from private collections around the UK including 100 surfboards (some of the world’s most valuable) and even the world’s longest ever surfboard (37ft loa) on display. 

The exhibition uncovers human stories and hidden histories backed up by photographs, videos and artwork – some of which has never been on public display before. It also explores how Cornish surf culture has influenced music, film, fashion and art with unseen works by leading contemporary artists including Damien Hirst and Abigail Fallis. 

I Spy

The Museum’s boatbuilding team headed by Bob White (Boat Collection Manager) is currently undergoing a huge boatbuilding project in the museum’s workshop to recreate one of the Helford Spy Surf Boats – an SN2 design – that played a big role in the Second World War.

These 25ft open boats embarked upon Special Operations Executive (SOE) missions from just ‘round the corner’ on the Helford River before being towed to within a mile of the occupied coast of France and rowing ashore to deliver crucial supplies to the French Resistance.

Using the original line drawings of the SN2 discovered in the National Maritime Museum Greenwich archives, the team is carefully recreating the boat in the Museum’s Workshop which is on display for all to see. Bob says although it is early days in the build, the recent open day was a huge success and drew a lot of attention. “Yes, indeed we still have a long way to go because it’s a very slow process, but the public interest in not only the build, but also in the history of the secret local wartime activities, has given us a lot of inspiration to have the boat completed by spring 2026 for a special exhibition.”

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