Whitby Regatta
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Posted On :
May-02-2011
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Article Word Count :
564
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Whitby Regatta is one of Whitby's most popular events of the summer. Find out about the history of one of England's oldest regattas, and what sort of things are taking place in this three day event.
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The dates for this year’s Whitby Regatta are the 13th, 14th and 15th August 2011. The Regatta in Whitby is one of the oldest sea regattas in this country and has been entertaining crowds for over 170 years. In the beginning, working fishermen competed against each other in their fishing smacks and cobbles. In 1847 a schooner won the Whitby Challenge Cup and for the next 80 years, yachts played a major role in the Regatta up to the 1930’s, but with the emergence of amateur rowing clubs, it is they who have become the major attraction of the sea races. Today there are 3 main competitors, the Whitby Fisherman’s Amateur Rowing Club, the Friendship Amateur Rowing Club and Scarborough Amateur Rowing Club.
The rowing races are started from out at sea along past the Spa Pavilion and along Upgang on the way to Sandsend. The races are taken very seriously and the competitors train for months to prepare themselves. The finishing line is in the harbour near the lifeboat station. Once the races are underway, crowds line the harbour and piers cheering for their teams. There are many different categories for the races including men, boys, seniors, girls and women. A large variety of fantastic silverware cups for the winners are normally on display in the town centre and then at the end of the Regatta there is a presentation ceremony for the winners at the Whitby Pavilion.
Each year the Whitby Regatta programme is printed and sold in local premises detailing the events timetables for the three day period. The sale of the programmes and sponsership by the various businesses in Whitby, help fund the Regatta which is organised by volunteers.
In addition to the main rowing races, this year’s events are thought to include the Red Arrows Display Team (a fantastic and dramatic air display on the West Cliffs above the sea), a Battle of Britain memorial flight featuring a spitfire and a hurricane, a stunt show, a fun run, a vintage car rally, motorcycle gymkhana, displays by the 3 forces - navy, army and air force, a bouncy castle, rides for children and various stalls.
In 1929 the first fancy dress parades and decorated carts appeared and now on Regatta Monday there is a Grand procession featuring Miss Regatta, children’s fancy dress and decorated carts or lorries around the town. Pier Road is closed to traffic all day Regatta Monday, from the swing bridge to as far as the end of the pier near the West Pier lighthouse to enable a plethora of stalls selling all manner of fancy goods, hot dogs stands, street traders and all types of fairground rides for young and old alike including waltzers, roundabouts, helter-skelter, ghost rides, mechanical bull and high rise rides!
In the evening at approximately 9.45 p.m. there is a spectacular firework display on the East Side, sometimes near the Abbey or alternatively on the East Pier. The display is visible from most areas of the harbour and along the West Cliff near the Royal Hotel. A very impressive end to the Regatta Celebrations!
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Whitby Regatta_61076.aspx
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Author Resource :
To find out more about Whitby Regatta, visit
Whitby Regatta
To find out more about Whitby and the surrounding area, visit
Whitby Yorkshire
To find out more about accommodation in Whitby, visit
Whitby Hotels
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Keywords :
whitby regatta, whitby yorkshire, whitby uk, whitby, ,
Category :
Travel and Leisure
:
Travel Tips
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