Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts X4.3

Wave of excitement building for Scilly's First Islands' Regatta

by Samantha Evamy 25 Aug 2016 07:56 NZST 26-29 August 2016
Grayhound Lugger © Visit Isles of Scilly: Islands' Regatta

The Isles of Scilly are getting ready for a busier-than-usual August Bank Holiday weekend as they prepare for the first Islands' Regatta – a four-day celebration of the islands' unique maritime history.

Drawing the crowds will be a flotilla of 25 classic and traditional boats, sailing into St. Mary's from Falmouth for the event, which runs from 26 to 29 August. Visitors will also be treated to a Round the Island race, a Parade of Sail, a visit from the Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland, and a non-stop shoreside programme. A bill-topping aerobatic display over the archipelago by the Royal Air Force Red Arrows on the final day will conclude Scilly's biggest event of the summer.

David Jackson, Executive Director at the Islands' Partnership, says: "Often we've seen a slight dip in visitor numbers over the August Bank Holiday weekend with people tending to head back to the mainland at that time. We introduced our inaugural Islands' Regatta to keep the season going a little longer, and it has certainly worked. We've had lots of interest from visitors staying over, daytrippers and classic boat participants. We're all set for a busy weekend and a spectacular finale to the summer holidays."

Free tours of HMS Sutherland, one of only 16 Type 23 frigates to be built, will give regatta visitors the chance to get up close to the on-board equipment and weapons systems, and meet members of the ship's company.

Catching the eye among the flotilla of classic gaffs, ketches, luggers and sloops on display will be Ripple, a 120-year-old Cornish lugger of the type once commonly seen at Cornish fishing ports, the Saint-Michel II, a replica of a pilot cutter owned by the writer Jules Verne, and the Grayhound Lugger, a replica 18th-century customs lugger, built using traditional materials and methods.

Adding to the excitement will be more than 30 Redwing dinghies fresh from the finale of the 2016 Redwing Championships.

Visitors can also enjoy a non-stop shoreside programme with live music, street performers and food and craft stalls, plus ale festivals at The Mermaid on St. Mary's and the New Inn on Tresco. There will be a guided walk around Hugh Town by leading historic shipwreck expert Richard Larn OBE, and a new maritime exhibition at the Isles of Scilly Museum.

Keeping the kids entertained will be a swashbuckling pirate cruise from St. Mary's to St. Martin's on Saturday afternoon, with storytelling and colourful characters, and an island treasure hunt and barbecue at Karma St. Martin's Hotel. Shop for Theatre will pop up around the regatta with performances of poems, stories and theatre outdoors, in shops and on boats. And Scilly's annual RNLI Water Carnival takes place on Sunday afternoon, with the ever popular raft race, slippery pole antics and Dunk the Hunk, as well as the opportunity to look around the impressive Whiteheads lifeboat.

Zoe Parry, Events Manager at the Islands' Partnership, says: "We're all set to extend a warm Scillonian welcome to all the visitors and boat owners who'll be joining us for Scilly's first Islands' Regatta. We're so looking forward to this celebration of all things nautical on the islands with the stirring spectacle of 25 classic boats, an adrenaline-fuelled display by the Red Arrows and masses of maritime family fun."

Anyone sailing or flying to Scilly for the regatta can take advantage of a special 10% discount on travel, valid from 24 to 31 August. Quote MTM when making your booking with Isles of Scilly Travel.

If you and your family love the sea, then the Isles of Scilly is the place to be over the August Bank Holiday weekend. For more information, visit www.visitislesofscilly.com/islandsregatta

The Islands' Regatta is one of a series of new events on Scilly for 2016 supported by the Coastal Communities Fund. Other events include the first Taste of Scilly festival running throughout September, when Scilly raises a glass to the very best of its local food and drink.

Related Articles

Bulwarks and Bulldust – Show 1 Season 3
Shane Guanaria from Doyle Sails and Zen Racing talks Admiral's Cup, Hobart, Hammo and a heap more... Episode One - Straight from the Admiral's Cup and Hamilton Island Race Week, Shane Guanaria from Doyle Sails and Zen Racing talks about those events, the impending 80th Hobart, and pathways into sailing. Lots to learn, so strap in for a terrific time. Posted today at 9:25 pm
Switch UK Championship at the WPNSA Day 2
Unique scoring format in a a week of disquiet from world's top Olympic sailors about scoring systems In a week that has seen considerable disquiet from the world's top Olympic sailors about scoring systems that could be used at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, it's interesting to see this fast-growing foiling class also try something new. Posted today at 6:00 pm
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo overall
Concluding an 18 year journey, American Magic Quantum Racing sign off at the top with a 7th title Doug DeVos and the American Magic Quantum Racing team lifted their seventh season championship title today in Sardinia, Italy at the conclusion of the 52 SUPER SERIES Porto Cervo Range Rover Sailing Week. Posted today at 5:47 pm
2025 Six Metre World Championship Overall
Bribon and Momo II are crowned champions at Seawanhaka Corinthian YC Three races for both divisions on the penultimate day of the 2025 Six Metre World Championships at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, produced some great competition and a new race winner. Posted today at 2:11 pm
29er Class open for championship bids
Inviting venues to submit proposals for the events The 29er Class Association is delighted to announce that bids are now open to host our upcoming major championships. Posted today at 8:32 am
Switch UK Championship at the WPNSA Day 1
Finn Dickinson leads Sam Whaley by a single point Imagine stepping in to the Dolorian and arriving at the first ever National Championship of your class. Would those present be aware that they were in the throws of making history and how long in to the future will this journey take us? Posted today at 5:51 am
2025 J/70 Corinthian Worlds at Massachusetts day 3
Light winds lead to leaderboard shake-up Mild breeze combined with a strong tide equaled a shake-up in the standings at the J/70 Corinthian World Championship in Marblehead, Massachusetts USA. Posted on 26 Sep
2025 Formula Wing Worlds Sardinia day 3
Women's battle heats up in the big waves A change of wind and wave conditions on day three of the Formula Wing World Championships in Cagliari brought a change of fortune for some key players. Posted on 26 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 4
Sled look to close out regatta win, American Magic Quantum Racing on the cusp of swansong 7th title The penultimate day of racing proved to be a sharp contrast to the two previous days of strong Mistral winds presenting the 13 teams from ten different nations with a different challenge as the conclusion of the 2025 season approaches. Posted on 26 Sep
Melges 24 Worlds 2025 at Trieste, Italy Day 4
No wind again today, everything will be decided tomorrow The high-pressure system over the Northern Adriatic, and particularly the Gulf of Trieste, left no chance for the 2025 Melges 24 World Championship today, as Day 4 ended without racing. Posted on 26 Sep
Pantaenius Sail 2025 NZ FooterV-DRY-XHyde Sails 2024 - One Design