Museum Park, National Waterfront Museum, 14 - 15 August

Celebrate Swansea's links to the sea with this free nautical-themed weekend festival packed full of sea and land-based activities and entertainment.

For the first time ever Swansea welcomes The Matthew into Swansea Marina. This fantastic replica Tudor merchant ship will be docked in Swansea Marina for visitors to explore during Sea Swansea.

On land, step inside an inflatable whale to watch an underwater Pirates misadventure with extraordinary fishy tales! Shiver me timbers! There's live music with the Pyrates Band singing folk tunes of sailors of old and great family entertainment with the Best Dressed Pirate competition, Treasure Hunt, Pirate Re-enactments with the Pike and Shot Pirates, shanty workshops, cooking demonstrations, displays and lots more.

At sea, watch the Newfoundland Dog Display in action, the Best Dressed Boat competition, Mumbles Lifeboat and the RNLI and of course, The Matthew. Don't forget to hop on board the historic floating exhibit The Olga.

Making a welcome return to the event is the Kipper Man, Brian the Blessed - Spectacular Giant Performance the Playright Pirate Ship, Model Boat Show, street entertainers and children's activities.

A great family day out m'hearties!

New for 2010!

• The Whale - a spectacular 50ft (18m) true to life, inflatable sperm whale, guarded by a noisy fishwife, who leads brave landlubbers into its belly revealing the stunning seascape of its lavishly decorated interior. Once inside they encounter a shipwrecked pirate and a treasure-hoarding mermaid and hear their extraordinary fishy tales. Enjoy the Pirates Misadventure for the first time in Sea Swansea.
• Pike and Shot Pirates - Pirate living history encampment with timed displays and stories, together with gun firing and swashbuckling demonstrations.
• Maritima  - www.maritimawoodcarving.co.uk - the art of the ships carver, by working on a current project and displaying some past work through photographs and exhibits
• The Pyrates - www.pyrates.co.uk The group have requisitioned countless well-known folk tunes from sailors of ages past including songs of the sea, Bawdy Ballads, Irish Ditties, Sea Shanties, Drinking Songs and arr'cappella folk tunes that'll be sure ta have yez tappin' yer foot and singing along in no time!
• Sail Swansea Exhibition
• Shanty Workshops
• Cooking Demonstrations

SeaSwansea will be taking place at the Museum Park in front of the National Waterfront Museum between 11am and 5pm on Saturday 14 August and Sunday 15 August, 2010.

Please contact 01792 635428 for more information.

The Matthew

The Matthew will sail into Swansea Marina for the first time for SeaSwansea! This fantastic replica Tudur merchant ship will be docked in Swansea Marina for visitors to explore plus competitions to sail on The Matthew from Bristol to Swansea or Swansea to Bristol.

Did you know?..

Over 500 years ago John Cabot and his crew set sail for Asia aboard the original Matthew hoping to trade goods and commodities with the people who lived there.

However, he finally arrived on the coast of Newfoundland and therefore was the original discoverer of America, not Christopher Columbus as most people are led to believe.

Today the replica of the Matthew sits proudly in Bristol harbour for all to see. The general public are able to board the Matthew as well as embark on trips around the harbour.

In 1997 the replica Matthew followed the same course as John Cabot in 1497 and sailed across to Newfoundland. It carried the same number of crew members as the original and took the same and used the same amount of time to complete the crossing.

Win a trip aboard The Matthew with Swansea Bay Summer Festival

We are giving two lucky people the chance to win a place aboard The Matthew when it sails from Bristol to Swansea between 11 – 13 August.  The winners will sleep aboard The Matthew on Wednesday 11 August and set sail on Thursday 12 August, travelling through the day, arriving in Swansea on the morning of Friday 13 August. (2 nights accommodation aboard The Matthew).  You can even help the crew if you wish or just sit back, relax and enjoy the voyage.

All you have to do is answer the following question:

Where will Sea Swansea be taking place?

Email your answer to swanseabayfestival@swansea.gov.uk before 3pm on Monday 9 August, 2010.

The competition is only open to people aged 18 and over. 

Please read the full competition terms and conditions before entering. 

Best Dressed Boat Competition 

SeaSwansea is looking for the theme of the festival to extend to the boats moored in Swansea Marina with prizes for the best dressed boat.  Boat owners are encouraged to decorate their crafts with pirate paraphernalia. The winner will receive £200 worht of BK Mller vouchers and 3 months free mooring in Swansea Marina. 

The boats will need to be decorated in time for SeaSwansea on 14/15 August when they will be judged.  The competition results will be announced on Monday 16 August.

For more information please contact 01792 635428.