At last the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta Committee can announce the confirmation of this year's 'worst kept secret'. Our Guardship is HMS St. Albans. We feel that it would be extremely difficult to hide a 4900 tonnes, Type 23 Frigate , of 133 meters, in the mix of 'gin palaces' 'yachts' and 'fishing boats', without someone seeing her.

On Regatta Thursday you will have great photographic opportunities, and maybe even win a prize in our competition, when this splendid ship enters the Dart at approximately 1830 and turns by the Higher Ferry to come back on to her mooring.

With a bit of luck and good timing HMS St. Albans could well be escorted in to the River by a fly over by the much awaited air display by the BLADES. It is a MUST that you all congregate on the South Embankment on Thursday to give a big welcome to our Guardship, there are not many Regattas in the Country where this sight can be witnessed.

Come early, stay late, and ENJOY.