LNTM 22-25 Dartmouth Royal Regatta – Saturday 23rd August – Sunday 31st August 2025
Effective until Sunday the 1st September 2025 – All mariners are advised:
Overview
The Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta will take place from Saturday 23rd August to Sunday 1st September 2025. During this period river users that are not involved in organised Regatta events are directed to keep clear of the waterborne events listed below and exercise particular caution when underway in the River Dart.
ColRegs & Dart Harbour Byelaws reminder.
All mariners are to be aware that the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea will apply at all times, to all vessels – Particular attention to rules:
- Rule 5 Look out – Every vessel shall maintain a proper lookout at all times. This includes using sight, hearing, and all other available means to assess the situation and the risk of collision.
- Rule 6 Safe Speed – The speed limit within the Harbour limits remains 6 knots and no wash. Vessels involved with the Regatta events (such as rowing craft, Safety boats and Dart Harbour Vessels) are exempt from the speed limit during Regatta events or emergencies.
- Rule 8 Action to avoid collision – The waters of Dart Harbour will be incredibly busy during the regatta, be it rowing events, pleasure vessels as well or large commercial traffic. Ensure that any action taken must be positive, made in ample time, and in accordance with good seamanship. Alterations in course or speed should be substantial and easily noticeable by other vessels, avoiding a series of small changes
- Byelaw 3 – Vessels to Navigate with care. The master of a vessel shall navigate his vessel with such care and caution, and at such speed and in such manner as not to endanger the lives of or cause injury or discomfort to persons or damage any property. This includes ensuring that vessels are not overloaded, particularly smaller tenders.
- Byelaw 17 & 20 – Reminder for all vessels to exhibit the correct lights in periods of darkness, including those at anchor. Masters who have their vessels stopped for this, are likely to have their details taken and a warning issued.
- Byelaw 11 – Navigation under influence of drink or drugs prohibited. Our yacht taxi will be operating throughout the Regatta between the hours of 08:00 – 22:30. Contact can be made via VHF Ch69 “Yacht Taxi” or 07970 346571.
Schedule of Maritime Events:
Zones where events take place can be seen on the chartlet, Fig1 below this table.
Exclusion zones are separate and be seen in Fig2
For any additional information on maritime events or exclusion zones please contact the Harbour Office.
| Time | Event | Location |
| Saturday 23rd August HW 07:12 4.5m |
||
| 10:00 – 18:00 | Pilot Gig racing | Zone 1 |
| 11:30 | Rockfish Junior Dinghy Regatta | Zone 2 – Bight |
| Sunday 24th August HW 07:52 4.6m |
||
| 09:00-19:30 | Local Rowing Heats | Zone 1 |
| 12:30 | Rockfish Junior Dinghy Regatta | Zone 2 – Bight |
| Monday 25th August HW 08:27 4.7m |
||
| 09:00-17:00 | Local Rowing Heats | Zone 1 |
| 12:30 | Rockfish Junior Dinghy Regatta | Zone 2 – Bight |
| 17:30 | Junior Dinghy Demo | Zone 3 – S Emb |
| Tuesday 26th August HW 08:57 4.6m |
||
| 14:00 onwards | Passage Race | At Sea |
| 17:00-20:00 | Seine Boat Rowing | Zone 1 |
| 17:30 onwards | Junior Dinghy Demo | Zone 1 |
| 18:00-19:00 | Adult Crabbing | Zone 3 – S Emb |
| Wednesday 27th August HW 09:24 4.6m |
||
| 09:00 onwards | Waterbourne Treasure Hunt | Harbour |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Dragon Boat Racing | Zone 1 |
| 10:30 onwards | Yacht Racing | At Sea |
| 18:00 | Prize giving treasure hunt | DYC |
| Thursday 28th August HW 09:49 4.4m |
||
| 09:30-17:00 | WEARA rowing | Zone 1 |
| 10:30 onwards | Yacht Racing | At Sea |
| Friday 29th August HW 10:16 4.3m |
||
| 09:00-17:00 | Local Rowing Finals | Zone 1 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Crab fishing | Zone 3 – S Emb |
| 10:30 onwards | Yacht Racing | At Sea |
| 17:00 | Flyboarding | Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
| 18:00-20:00 | Model boat racing | Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
| 20:45 | Flyboarding | Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
| Saturday 30th August HW 10:46 4.1m |
||
| 10:00-18:00 | Coastal Rowing | Zone 2 – Bight |
| 10:30 onwards | Yacht Racing | At Sea |
| 11:00-13:00 | Rowing Tug of war | Boat float |
| 12:00-14:00 | Kon Tiki Raft Race | Zone 3 – S Emb |
| 13:00 onwards | Yacht Racing Finish (~150 yachts returning) | Sea to Darthaven |
| 14:00-16:00 | River Parade | Zone 1 |
| 16:00-16:30 | RNLI Demo | Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
| 16:30 onwards | RNLI open boat | Easy Access Pontoon, off Town Jetty |
| 16:30 | Waverley Pilot On Board | At Sea Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
| 17:00 | Waverley spin at Maypool area | Maypool Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
| 17:20 | Waverley on TJ, bow south | Town Jetty Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
| 18:00 | Waverley depart TJ | Town Jetty Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
| 20:35 | Waverley spin at ship turning basin | Turning Basin (above higher ferry) Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
| 20:45 | Waverley on TJ, bow south | Town Jetty Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
| 21:00 | Fireworks | Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
| Sunday 31st August HW 11:22 4.1m |
||
| 09:30 | Waverly depart TJ | Town Jetty Exclusion Zone in force – Fig2 |
Zone Map (Fig1)
Exclusion Zones
For the safety of participants and river users the following events will have an exclusion area around the event, these exclusion zones will be announced on VHF CH11 and patrolled be Dart Harbour Staff.
The exclusion zones are shown in the chartlet below (fig 2)
Flyboarding.
An area between Yacht Club and Town Jetty Pontoons. Masters of vessels in this area are to obey any directions by harbour staff or other agencies.
Waverley arrival and departure.
The “PS Waverley” is a 73m paddle steamer. She will be arriving under pilotage at approximately 16:30 onwards on the Saturday 30th August. Once in the Harbour, she will be heading towards the Anchor Stone (nr Dittisham) to turn with the assistance from Dart Harbour vessels. Following her turn, she will be heading downstream and berthing on the outside of the Town Jetty, starboard side to. Waverley will also be conducting another trip to sea, departing the Jetty ~18:00 and returning at 20:45.
Vessels are welcome to come and view the Waverley’s arrival but must remain clear of the vessel and follow directions given by Dart Harbour staff or the Pilot.
RNLI Display.
There will be an exclusion zone enforced, in an area from upstream of Lower Ferry crossing, and upriver of the Town Jetty Pontoons. The town anchorage (east of the mainstream moorings) is not included in this exclusion zone, but vessels navigating through this area must proceed with extreme caution.
The RNLI will be operating multiple vessels at high speed, conducting high energy manoeuvrers and also have people in the water simulating casualties during this demonstration and river users are directed to keep well clear.
Masters of vessels in this area are to obey any directions by Dart Harbour Staff or other agencies.
Fireworks.
During the display, fireworks will be projected from a barge moored on the MS1 Buoy, towards the south. Spent fireworks and embers are likely to fall in the vicinity during the display. To minimise risk to waterborne spectators a 100m exclusion zone is established around this barge. This exclusion zone is patrolled by Harbour Craft.
The Town Jetty and Yacht Club Pontoons will be closed, with no transit access to the public between 20:50 and 21:30 on Saturday 30th August 2025. Masters of vessels on these Pontoons are to remain clear of them and obey any directions by harbour staff or other agencies.
Masters and skippers of craft underway are also reminded to be particularly vigilant during the firework display as there is a high risk of becoming distracted from the demands of navigational safety.
Mariners using Dart Harbour facilities in the vicinity of the Regatta firework display do so at entirely their own risk.
Safety.
Events that require it, will be supported by dedicated Regatta Safety Craft (normally marked with a yellow “Q” flag). Dart Harbour Staff will be afloat in vessels marked ‘Harbour Patrol’ and are available to assist if required on VHF Ch. 11, call sign “DARTNAV”.
Visiting Vessels.
All visiting vessels will be allocated berths on a first come first served basis, Please call “DARTNAV” on VHF Ch11 upon arrival. Please also bear in mind, that the outside of the Town Jetty will have very limited berthing owing to the PS Waverley berthing overnight.
The current forecast is also quite changeable, if the weather becomes poor, it may lead to restrictions on visitor berthing, such as limited numbers of rafting vessels etc. As always, the Dart Harbour team will endeavour to provide visiting vessels with a berth.
Issued 21st August 2025
J Handley – Assistant Harbour Master – Compliance.
View more port notices
