Our annual River Dart Rally runs alongside the Dittisham Village regatta and enjoys spectators from both local residents and holiday makers enjoying the festival weekend.

This was the ninth ‘River Dart Rally’ and we wanted it to be memorable as it was to be our swansong.

Anyone organising a sailing event will be used to the vagaries of the weather and over the years we have had everything from a delayed start due to lack of wind to a 24 hour postponement because of an unseasonable Force 8 gale.

The one constant has been the catering from the ‘Drinks Reception’ on the Friday evening, the Prize Giving and Club Supper on the Saturday to the ‘Red Lion’ Breakfast on the Sunday morning.

This year the Cape Cutter 19 from the Yealm, the Cape Henry 21 from Plymouth and 19’ Norfolk Gypsy from Salcombe all made it to the Dart for the beginning of the Rally.  Forecasts earlier in the week indicated that we would be lucky with a favourable weather window over the weekend.  The weather in July and early August had been disappointing and changeable.  In the event, the weather was kind on both the Friday and Sunday but the wind was too strong for the smaller boats on ‘Ditsum Regatta’ day.

Dart Sailability’s Drascombe Longboat, ‘Kanata’ had to withdraw from the ‘Parade of Sail’ as it was too windy to launch her from their base on the other side of the river at Galmpton.  Most boats attempted to take part in the ‘Parade of Sail’ and up by the pier and pontoon at Dittisham was the calmest part of the river.  Excellent photos of the Parade of Sail were taken by Emma Turner (who chose to remain on shore).

It was a different story down by the start line for the Gaffer Race off Waddeton.  There were white horses on the river and it became apparent that any racing would result in capsizes, gear failure and possibly boat damage.  The racing was cancelled although ‘Flirt’ did attempt to start and complete a lap.

This year we attracted three Francois Vivier Morbic 12s, a delightful Rushton Princess Lug rigged yawl sailing canoe (for which the conditions were not ideal), an OGA Gaffling dinghy in the capable hands of Mike Bennett (who had won the event in 2019), a Yealm Crabber, a Swallow Bay Raider, a Shrimper 19 modified with a carbon fibre mast/ cutter rig + bowsprit extended by 12” and the writer’s 21’ Kite class trailer sailer. The largest boat in the fleet was a Cornish Crabber 26, again with an all girl crew.

The Club Room at Dittisham Sailing Club was full for the prize giving on Saturday evening.  As there had been no racing ‘The John Wynn Trophy’ and SWG ‘Grog Trophy’ could not be awarded.  However, Regatta Mugs, RNLI mugs and other RNLI items were all awarded to worthy winners.

The Doom Bar had all been consumed and everyone was anticipating the Club Supper being provided by a local caterer.  As the time for supper approached, urgent phone calls were made to see if the caterer was having difficulty finding the sailing club.  All calls went to voicemail.  Eventually, it became clear that the supper was not going to materialize.

Plan B was to obtain takeaway pizzas from the Ferry Boat Inn, who came up trumps.  Some decided to eat at home or on board their boats but everyone else was at least fed with a variety of excellent pizzas.

Some boats had to leave early on Sunday but the ‘Red Lion’ provided 20 cooked breakfasts in the garden of the ‘Red Lion’ so things were looking up.

Early afternoon saw a cruise in company up the River Dart.  Unfortunately, it was still too windy for the sailing canoe, but well reefed, the Morbic 12s made a fine sight. Mark Darley in the Bay Raider 20 acted as ‘Mother ship’ and took some fine photographs.
  
Last year we divided the profit from the event between ‘Dart Sailability’ and ‘Brixham Heritage Regatta’.  This year it was agreed that any profit would be divided between ‘’Dart Sailability’ and ‘Dart RNLI’. This was estimated at £50.  Everyone attending the Club Supper on the Saturday evening was offered a refund but people’s amazing generosity and understanding over the supper fiasco has resulted in us being able to donate £150 to each charity.  No satisfactory explanation or apology has been forthcoming from the caterer but at least there is a positive result for our chosen charities.

Dittisham Parish Council allow participants in the Rally to park campervans overnight in the ‘Ham Carpark’ and to pitch their tents on ‘The Ham’. Dittisham Sailing Club run the Gaffer Race and allow everyone to use the club’s facilities.  This makes the camping a very civilised experience.  Ditsum Regatta Committee regard the Parade of Sail as adding to the ambiance of the village regatta and would like us to return next year.

In 2024 ‘Ditsum Regatta’ will be held on Saturday 17th August so put the date in your diary now!  As ‘Ditsum Regatta’ is a week later than usual next year, Carolyn and I will be in France for a large family celebration.  However, we will still be able to assist the new organisers to set up the arrangements, using our local connections with the Parish Council, Regatta Committee and Sailing Club.

The River Dart Rally is an important event for South West Gaffers as it is their main ‘Small Boat’ event which can also cater for the larger trailer sailers.  We are sure they will want to continue it even if there have to be some changes to the format.  The River Dart is a special place for small boats.  If you can assist the organisers, don’t be bashful, please offer your services.

View an extensive gallery of photographs taken at the event on our SWG Galley page via this link    2023 River Dart Rally gallery