Regatta round up!
Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority has always been a proud supporter and facilitator of the historic Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta and the 181st event has now drawn to a successful close.
As ever the activity was focused mainly on the water, with everything from dragon boat racing, traditional rowing, pilot gig racing and W.E.A.R.A racing. The harbour authority team helped to keep the river clear for the rowing competitors, so all the events could run smoothly.
The Royal Navy guardship HMS Brocklesby M33 took pride of place on the Mainstream buoys mid-river and provided the backdrop for all the activity on the water. The 60m Hunt Class Minesweeper was guided in by the harbour river crew before the RN personnel hoisted the naval flags to mark the event.
Two Royal Navy P2000 class Patrol Vessels – HMS Blazer and HMS Express – also joined in, moored at Town Jetty alongside CPV Eagle from the Border Security Command.
Nicola Jones, Coastal Patrol Vessel Officer in Charge of CPV Eagle, said: “I wanted to extend my sincere thanks for the excellent support and hospitality shown to us whilst berthed on Town Quay. The event was a tremendous success, and the strong sense of community that exists within Dartmouth was evident throughout. You and your team should be immensely proud of what was achieved.
“Throughout our engagement with the public, I was keen to highlight the positive and collaborative relationship we enjoy with the harbour team, and the important role that partnership working plays in supporting the safety and wellbeing of both the maritime community and the wider public. Long may this excellent relationship continue.”
The annual waterborne treasure hunt, organised by Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority, was as eagerly contested as ever this year! A queue formed to collect the entry forms early in the Harbour Office and they were off!
Our Harbourmaster Paul takes great pleasure in setting questions that both tax, intrigue and educate and it was no exception this year! Questions ranged from navigation marks, history and answers that can only be spotted whilst navigating the river – and they certainly got people thinking!
The winning team – Stormbird – excelled themselves, with a score of 45 out of 48!
The very generous £200 prize money is donated by Heather Robinson, along with a trophy, in memory of Heather’s father Reginald Walter Merrick.
Second prize went to Polly Darton with 43, third place was achieved by Makka Pakka and the Tomliboos with 41, fourth was Dexter Family also with 41 (but taking slightly longer to complete), and fifth was Out of the Blue with 40.
Most entertaining team name couldn’t help but be awarded to Polly Darton – both newsworthy and geographically relevant!
Best Wrong Answer was awarded to Water Bourne Identity, with their very creative depiction of Hercule Poirot’s curly moustache!
Congratulations to everyone!
The inaugural paddleboard race, sponsored by Dart Harbour, was an unfortunate victim of the weather, with strong gusting winds instigating a cancel notice. Fingers crossed for next year!
As a Harbour Authority we work hard behind the scenes to facilitate all the events happening on the river.
Occasionally we also get to take part and it was with great anticipation that members of the river team and the Harbourmaster downed tools and donned paddles to compete in the kon-tiki raft race!
Aboard our mini pilot boat Mallard, they battled through the course, from the Boatfloat and under Town Jetty bridge back to the Boatfloat, displaying grit, strength and huge grins throughout! Oh, and port and starboard socks!
Well done guys – not a first place win this year, but lots of fun and backflips!
Paul Britton, Harbourmaster and CEO of Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority, said: “Dartmouth Regatta is one of the biggest in the country and almost certainly the most varied, with a massive programme of rowing, sailing and other events. It is the busiest week of the year and my team have been out in force keeping everyone safe and making sure everything runs smoothly.
“It’s always a pleasure to welcome so many happy people to Dartmouth, and we look forward to the 182nd regatta from 21st-28th August 2027!”
Another popular activity was the waterborne bungee rowing where teams of four competed against the rope.
The top all men’s team battled to a distance of 18 metres, with the winning all ladies team achieving a total of 17.1 metres.
The organisers of the bungee rowing couldn’t help but get involved and racked up a very impressive distance of 21 metres – one team member was Yorkie who has previously rowed the Atlantic as part of a team. The River Dart wasn’t quite as unpredictable but still threw in a few challenging conditions!
A firework display over the river signals the end of the Regatta and the river crew guide the barge (kindly provided by Marine Plant Hire UK) into position for the final display.
With steamboats, competitive crabbing, mixed eights, whaler races, pair-oared races, sculls and coastal rowing all taking to the River Dart, it was an unforgettable and eventful Regatta.
Ed Botterill, Chairman of Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta, said: “Thank you doesn’t seem quite enough to express the gratitude of the Regatta Committee for the hours of effort and support put in by Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority.
“At every stage, DHNA has delivered everything and anything that we asked for, needed, didn’t know we needed and also needed but just couldn’t do.
“Managing the huge increase in river traffic over Regatta appears effortless under Paul’s management and literally nothing has been too much trouble.
“Having the on-duty River Officers pop into the Royal Avenue Gardens in the evening to see if there was anything we needed a hand with really made a difference – thank you.”
View more news
