White Sail Event

Dartmouth Royal Regatta Sailing Week is a celebration of sailing in all its guises.  We are conscious that there are plenty of sailors of yachts and dayboats who don’t necessarily want to race all the time. Our White Sail Event  is designed for sailors who want to enjoy the pleasures of Start Bay during Regatta and is ideal for crews who like a challenge but don’t want the hurly burly of racing. Come and enjoy a relaxed couple of days sailing for family and friends where brain rather than brawn will be needed. There is no need for large numbers of crew, and sitting out on the rail, moveable ballast,  spinnakers or specialist downwind sails are not allowed.

We hope many cruising yachtsmen and families who don’t want to join in the formal racing will enjoy this fun event.  Each day has its own set of prizes so don’t worry if you can only take part on one of the days.

This year we will be adopting a new format, based on the “Corinthian” programme which had a very successful introductory season in 2024 with the cruising yachts at RDYC . Each day is arranged like a Pursuit Race, with every boat allocated a start time according to their handicap.  But instead of having to cross a finish line, all boats continue sailing until a specified time.  Each boat then records the boats ahead and behind at the finish time, and the boat that is ahead on the water is the winner. This format provides keen competition without the pressures of a formal start line and ensures that every boat still on the course gets a score.

The race duration (for a scratch boat with rating 1000) is planned to be 2 hours, finishing at 14:30.  This will give a starting range approximately 12:00-13:00 depending on entries. In the event of unfavourable forecast, any change to these timings will be announced by 20:00 the previous evening. (The minimum race duration will be 1 hour, the earliest start time will not be before 11:00 and the finish will not be later than 15:00. Any further changes on the day will be announced by VHF and the start times will not be earlier.)

Boats will compete under handicap. This year’s event will again be run under the RYA YTC handicap system sponsored by AERA (see rorcrating.com/ryaytc/), and competitors are encouraged to apply for a certificate, which is free but must be renewed annually.  Near to the event, please allow at least 7 working days for your application to be processed.  Boats without a certificate will be allocated a rating according to the best estimate of the Chairman.  The White Sail Event is actually open to all yachts regardless of the colour of their sails, provided spinnakers and specialist downwind sails (e.g. code zero or asymmetric) are not used.  Specialist racing sails (e.g. containing Carbon, Aramid  (Kevlar), Dyneema or similar fibres) should not be used, but if you have no alternative, please inform us and this may be taken into account by an adjustment to your rating.  If in doubt, please email entries@dartmouthsailingweek.comto check your eligibility. 

Each day’s course and timing will be announced by 20:00 on the previous evening, depending on the weather, and to keep clear of the main race fleets. It will be emailed in pdf format to all entrants, available to download from the website, and printed to collect from RDYC – or contact us beforehand if these arrangements don’t suit you.  Each boat will be allocated its own start time based on its handicap, with the slowest boats starting first.  With boats sailing to their handicap, the later starters will gain on the earlier boats, giving an exciting last leg as the clock ticks down.   At the finish time, each boat will complete a declaration giving the number of laps completed and naming the boats visible ahead and behind.  If possible, a finish position should be recorded (e.g. by taking a photo of the chart plotter, or using an app such as what3words) for clarification in case nearby boats cannot be identified.  Your declaration form should be returned to RDYC by 16:00, either in person or by email.   

Please be aware that emails can be delayed if signal is weak, so don’t assume your emailed form has been received unless acknowledged by the Sailing Office.

Please note that this event is not covered by a Notice of Race, and should be sailed under a “Red Ensign”. In the spirit of the event, boats should be handled in a courteous and seaman-like cruising manner – if the weather dictates, reefing is encouraged, and manoeuvres such as deliberately creating wind shadow or heading up to force the windward boat to tack away are discouraged.

Important: please check your insurance to ensure that you are covered at least for third party liability risks. Although not classed as a formal race according to RYA terminology, your insurer may exclude or limit cover in a timed event such as this, which some might interpret as racing.

Communication will be on Channel 10. A mobile phone must also be carried to comply with the Emergency Procedures (available here nearer the time). Crews may join a WhatsApp group to share photos and chat through the day.

The Gaffer Event will be following the same course, although with an earlier finish time and separate prizes.

There will be prizegivings on both days at RDYC, with both Daily and Series prizes.  After the Friday prizegiving, an area at the club will be set aside for the Gaffer and White Sail crews, so that they can meet up to chat over the day’s sail and perhaps enjoy a crew supper together.

Get your entry in early to take advantage of the early-bird discount – just £14 per day or £25 for both days until 31st July.  After that, the full fee is still only £19 per day, or £32.50 for both days.  Click here for information on how to enter, or click here to go direct to online entry and payment for this event.

Cancellation policy: If an entry is cancelled, an administrative fee will be charged of 4% until 31st July, and of 50% from 1st -14th August; from the 15th August, refunds will only be made in exceptional circumstances.  If the event is cancelled for any reason (excluding abandonment by the Race Committee) entrants will be offered the options of a full refund or to carry their entry over to 2026.