Dartmouth is a stunning town in South Devon and a magnificent backdrop to the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta that takes place every August. The Port is steeped in history, as is the event: it is one of the oldest in the country and the earliest recorded Regatta was in 1822 with 2024 seeing the 179th Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta take place.
The Regatta committee work tirelessly, all as volunteers, to bring a Regatta that Dartmouth, and her visitors, will be proud of every year. The event is free to attend and the committee rely entirely on their amazing sponsors and generous public donations, with no funding received from any source. Please do support us by giving generously to our collectors and by buying a Regatta Souvenir Programme. It costs over £180,000 to stage the event every year and we need your help to do this!
The week long celebrations, incorporating the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta, always takes place during the week that includes the last Friday in August. It has a plethora of water based and shoreside sporting events, as well as family entertainment and fun in bucket loads. There is a real ‘festival’ feel to Dartmouth during this week, with something for everyone to do and enjoy; it is little wonder we are the second largest Regatta in the UK.
The yachting events – of which there are over 50 – take place in Start Bay usually with around 250 boats, ranging from older classics to high-end racing machines providing for some very exciting and competitive racing. Among the numerous other events on the river are bungee rowing, Kontiki Raft Race, Seine Boat Rowing and the Royal Regatta River Parade with our steamboat rally on Regatta Saturday afternoon.
In addition to the rowing and sailing there are a number of other well established sporting events. Athletics has been part of the Regatta since 1937 and is represented now by the Regatta Road Race, and the Regatta Tennis Tournament, classed as a level 4 competition by the LTA, has arguably the best view of any tennis tournament in the UK! Many more sporting events take place including Golf, Bowls and Darts and the long established Regatta Swimming Gala, which has some of our finest trophies and silverware.
But it isn’t just about the sport. Regatta always delivers a packed programme on the shoreside too. There are heaps of activities for children and families including crab fishing, pavement artist, colouring, fancy dress and ice cream eating competitions, waterborne treasure hunts and the famous Spot the Oddity Competition. Families can also enjoy many fun events such as trolley racing, waiters and waitresses races, barrel rolling and perhaps as a team in the truly legendary Kon-Tiki raft race. You may even see a a Flyboarding display and you will definitely see a firework display. Even your four legged friends are covered with our very popular and hotly contested Regatta Dog Show as part of the Regatta Week.
If you fancy some retail therapy then the town is full of independently owned shops to browse, and the Regatta organises a Shopping Parade along the Embankment with a mix of local and top quality vendors.
Music features heavily too, all around the town, whether in the Royal Avenue Gardens or In Bayards Cove
The very essence of our prestigious event is its people. The friendly, welcoming town, is full of amazing businesses where you can eat, sleep, shop and enjoy. Everyone comes together during the week to ensure it goes off with aplomb. We hope you enjoy it!
The Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta is the trading name of the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta Limited, a company registered in England, No: 07728393 Registered Office: c/o Marsland Nash Associates Vantage Point House, Decoy Industrial Estate, Silverhills Rd, Newton Abbot TQ12 5ND
© 2025 Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta