Whitby Regatta 2023

A full weekend of entertainment embracing yacht and rowing races and free entertainment, finishing with a prize presentation and spectacular firework display. The Regatta is a boat lover’s dream as people gather for a three-day festival featuring rowing team competitions, yacht races, and rafters competing against each other along the North Yorkshire coast.

RED ARROWS AEROBATIC DISPLAY

A Historic Celebration

With a history of over one hundred and eighty years of aquatic competition and entertainment. The Whitby Regatta is probably the oldest sea Regatta on the northeast coast and has drawn large crowds to Whitby over the years.

In 1900, 11,000 people attended the Regatta, and today it draws crowds of 20,000 for the three-day festival. No longer just a rowing competition, the Whitby Regatta also features a beach soccer festival for children under 11 years of age and other activities geared toward kids that take place on all three days. A 4k fun run, which takes place along the sea wall, comes on the second day of the gathering, and displays from the Army, Navy, and RAF make up other events at the modern-day Regatta.

While the boat races are still some of the main events, vehicles of other types are also featured. There are vintage, classic and sports car rallies at the Regatta, along with motorcycle displays, showing off riders’ skills on Whitby’s beach. The event is capped off with a fireworks display. The three-day event is scheduled for August of each year.

What is the Whitby Regatta?

What started as a small competition between fishers has become the oldest sea regatta in England, with large crowds gathering for the past 173 years. After the event was started by anglers competing in their fishing boats, the yachts came to the area, racing for The Whitby Challenge Cup in 1847. The Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club sponsored the race, which paid the captains or owners of the race 50 guineas. From 1847 to the mid-1930s, the yacht races became the main draw for the Regatta.

Events

• Spectacular Fireworks Display
• RAF Red Arrows Aerobatic Display Team
• Regatta Fun Run
• RAF Battle of Britain Lancaster Flying Display
• Rowing Races
• Spit and Polish Classic Car Rally

Volunteering

The Whitby Regatta Organisers are looking for additional people to help out during the famous Whitby Regatta weekend event which is taking place in August.

Are you ‘customer-friendly’, aged 16 or over, reliable and available for helping out sometime over the Whitby Regatta weekend?

This Year

Saturday 12th, Sunday 13th and Monday 14th August

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