Dartmouth Royal Regatta Sailing Week is the UK’s largest sailing regatta after Cowes Week appealing to the serious racing enthusiast, but also offering family friendly events for the novice or cruising yachtsman.

Our 2023 plans are set out below, but please check back for the latest information. For more detailed information, please click here for Notices of Race, and here for how to enter.

Rockfish Junior Dinghy Series | Pilot Financial Dinghy Series  |  Savills Passage Race | Yacht & Day Sailing Boat Series | White Sail Event | Gaffer Event 

Rockfish Junior Dinghy Series at RDYC –  Sunday 20th-Tuesday 22nd August 

Junior Dinghies will race from Dartmouth/ Kingswear with a range of river courses. This year, the Junior Series will start on Sunday and run over 3 days, with 3 races scheduled per day (thus more races overall than in past years). One-design classes expected for Toppers, Fevas and Teras, and a PY handicap class for other junior boats. Offering great fun and an excellent introduction to dinghy racing for under 16’s.

Pilot Financial Dinghy Series at Dittisham SC – Sunday 20th-Wednesday 23rd August 

This year, the Dinghy Series starts one day later than its traditional timing at the beginning of the main Regatta Week, due to adverse tides on the Saturday.  Open to all ages and welcoming family crews and more experienced youngsters ready to move on to adult-level competition.

With 2 races a day planned, there will be challenging racing set in this stunning location. Handicap racing and fleet racing expected for Lasers and Solos, plus others subject to entries.

 Savills Passage Race – Wednesday 23rd August 

Wednesday afternoon sees the start of the formal yacht racing, with the Brixham to Dartmouth Passage Race sponsored by Savills. This race traditionally attracts boats moving on from the previous weekend’s Royal Torbay Regatta as well as many boats which head round from Dartmouth in the morning. Classes expected for IRC, Cruisers and Cruiser non-spinnaker. The course will be set to take best advantage of the weather conditions, to provide an exhilarating race along this dramatic stretch of coast, with Berry Head and Froward Point providing excellent viewing opportunities.

 Yacht & Day Sailing Boat Series – Thursday 24th-Sunday 27th August 

Superb yacht racing is on two or three courses in Start Bay, over four days.  There will be a range of handicap classes for IRC, Cruisers,  and Day Sailing Boats (up to 7m), and class racing for Squibs and other classes subject to entries.  There are usually at least two races per day, but new this year, we will be trialling three races per day for the IRC classes only.

Less experienced crews and those wanting to participate “just for fun” in boats designed principally for cruising may prefer the lively competition but perhaps slightly less intense atmosphere of the Cruiser class, which will use the RYA Yacht Time Correction handicap system (previously known as the SW YTC). There is no charge for obtaining a RYA YTC number, please see www.swytc.org.uk for more information, or to renew for 2023. A non-spinnaker option will be available for Cruiser yachts, perhaps suiting those who prefer to sail with family-only crews, or unable to muster the full crew numbers.

Top quality Race Management run series of excellent races in Start Bay.  The smaller and slower boats will compete close to the river mouth, while the faster boats will make the most of the fantastic sailing grounds of Start Bay. One day (Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and depending on the weather) there will be a longer coastal race.  These spectacular boats with their colourful spinnakers provide a dramatic sight for spectators on the whole coast from Little Dartmouth to Blackpool Sands.

After its successful introduction last year, we will again be using a mobile App for competitors to submit hearing requests (protests) or results enquiries (click here for details).  We will aim to hold each daily prizegiving on the same day as its races. There is of course the Series Prize Giving on Sunday evening. 

To mark the Coronation year of King Charles, we will be awarding the “Coronation Vase” for a Club Team competition within the Series – teams are invited to represent their home or visiting club (with joint Club teams for those clubs with less than 3 entrants).  A chance to get together with other competitors to add a little extra pizzazz to the racing!

White Sail Event –  Saturday 26th-Sunday 27th August

For yachts not wishing to race formally, the White Sail Event offers 2 days of fun competition. Open to all sailing yachts – you don’t specifically need white sails, but spinnakers and specialist racing sails are not allowed.  We look forward to welcoming many family crews.

On each day, the boats will use their passage planning skills to decide the best setting off time within a 2 hour window, and sail a fixed course in Start Bay, noting their own times. This format provides keen competition without the pressures of a formal start line or round-the-cans racing. The courses will be announced nearer the time to take best advantage of the weather and avoid the main race fleets. The Gaffers will be following the same course but with a separate start time and separate prizes.  Competitors are encouraged to apply for a RYA YTC handicap (see www.swytc.org.uk), but boats without a certificate will be allocated a rating according the best estimate of the Chairman in the spirit of the event.

Daily prize giving, with Series prizes on Sunday for those competing on both days.

Click here for more details of the White Sail Event. 

Gaffers Event – Saturday 26th-Sunday 27th August

Our Gaffer Event is designed for sailors of Gaff Rigged boats who want to enjoy the pleasures of Start Bay during Regatta, and the challenge of competition against similar boats, but without the hurly burly of racing among the faster yachts. Come and enjoy a friendly and competitive couple of days sailing away from the main race fleets!

On both Saturday and Sunday, boats will set off within a short time window and sail a fixed course in Start Bay, noting their own start and finish times. The courses will be announced nearer the time, depending on the weather, and boats will compete under their OGA T(H)CF handicap. White Sail yachts will be following the same course but with separate start window and separate prizes.

Daily prize giving, with Series prizes on Sunday for those competing on both days.

Click here for more details of the Gaffer Event.