Whitby Sights

Whitby Regatta

WHITBY Regatta is the town's biggest annual event attracting at least 20,000 people who come to enjoy the thrills and spills.

The three-day extravaganza on land and sea is being held on Saturday 22, Sunday 23 and Monday 24 August.
The Whitby Regatta is probably the oldest sea regatta in England and started in a very small way with fishermen competing against each other in their fishing smocks and salmon cobles.

Now 169 years on, it has grown into a major spectacle with crowds gathering to cheer on the rowers who train hard all year for the rowing races.

But the regatta is not just about yacht racing and rowing races although this is a major part - there are also various free forms of entertainment, mainly along the West Cliff including stunt shows, dog shows, classic cars, Armed Forces displays and children's entertainment.

Among the many highlights are a bonny baby competition at Whitby Pavilion and the quest to find the regatta's most glamorous granny.

And on Monday morning a Grand Parade is held through
town which culminates in a fancy dress competition when the best floats and costumes are awarded prizes.

Another huge part of the regatta is the fair, with rides galore and stalls selling clothing and goodies which takes over Pier Road and the West Pier Itself which makes for spectacular pictures when the rides light up at night.

The three days of fun are rounded off with a spectacular free firework display where crowds gather on the cliffs for the best vantage point.

Although almost all of the regatta is free, the dedicated organising committee rely heavily on donations from the public to stage the regatta and people are urged to give generously throughout the weekend to any of the official regatta collectors.