The Salcombe Town Regatta 2024

The Salcombe Town Regatta is the highlight of this stunning harbourside town’s summer calendar, and as such, the schedule is jam packed with activities both on land and sea. Fast approaching, this year the Salcombe Town Regatta is taking place from 3rd – 10th August.

Read on for our full guide to the Salcombe Town Regatta 2024.

Our guide to the Salcombe Town Regatta 2024
The Salcombe Town Regatta offers a perfect blend of maritime tradition, family fun, and community celebration. From sailing races and swimming events, to a firework spectacle and fancy dress parade, the regatta fully embraces the much reputed community spirit of Salcombe.

Use our quick links below to jump to a specific section or continue reading for all you need to know about the Salcombe Town Regatta 2024…

• About the Salcombe Town Regatta
• Do you have to pay to attend the Salcombe Town Regatta?
• Salcombe Town Regatta sailing races
• Family activities to enjoy during the Salcombe Town Regatta
• Fireworks and evening entertainment at the regatta
• Food and drink at the Salcombe Town Regatta
• Salcombe Town Regatta holiday cottages

About the Salcombe Town Regatta
Dating back over a century, the Salcombe Town Regatta has evolved from a simple sailing competition into a much loved week-long festival. The first regatta took place in 1856, and the event has always been popular with crowds of people lining the quay or rafting rowing boats together in the harbour, all in a bid to get a front seat for the races.

The Salcombe Town Regatta is a true community effort, with local businesses, organisations, and volunteers coming together to make the event a success. This collaborative spirit is a testament to Salcombe’s close-knit community. The full list of local sponsors can be found on the Salcombe Town Regatta website and in the programme, which is available to purchase both online and locally.

Do you have to pay to attend the Salcombe Town Regatta?

The Salcombe Town Regatta is free to attend and you will find free activities to enjoy throughout the week, including a busy schedule for children that are keen to get involved. Inevitably, some events are chargeable, and we advise coming prepared with cash or a preferred payment method.

For those that want to make a voluntary donation towards the event, you can do so on the Salcombe Town Regatta website fundraising page. The regatta costs over £25,000 to execute and as you can imagine, every penny contributed helps enormously!

Salcombe Town Regatta sailing races
At the very core of the regatta, amongst various rowing and raft races, is a jam packed schedule of sailing races. From traditional Salcombe Yawls to modern dinghies, a variety of vessels compete in races across the estuary throughout the week. From experienced sailors to children learning the ropes, the Salcombe Regatta sailing events are extremely inclusive, with something suitable for anyone keen to join in.

For a comprehensive guide to the sailing races, purchase a Salcombe Town Regatta programme, available digitally online, or in print at various Salcombe establishments.

Family activities to enjoy during the Salcombe Town Regatta
The regatta isn’t just for sailing enthusiasts; in fact it is one of the most family-friendly weeks of the summer. Salcombe regatta has something for all ages, with an exciting schedule of events for children including ‘spot the bloomer’, children’s sports and parachuting teddies. Other popular family-friendly activities held throughout the week include:

• Sandcastle building competitions
• Crab catching contests
• Swimming races
• Beach sports and games

Taking place on Sunday 4^th August is the Island Street Party. Following the ever popular Fun Run, Island Street will be closed to traffic, making way for a vibrant array of street stalls for one afternoon only! Pop along between 12pm and 6pm to enjoy some children’s entertainment, including the much-loved pavement colouring competition. Sample some delicious food and drink, and peruse the fabulous selection of local handmade goods on offer. The Coast & Country Cottages team will be providing free activities for the kids, so be sure to go and say hello!

The social media channels for the Salcombe Town Regatta are great places to find regular event updates, with both their Instagram account and Facebook page frequently updated.

Fireworks and evening entertainment at the regatta
The regatta fireworks are spectacular, and draw in crowds of spectators from near and far. Previously held on the Thursday evening of regatta week, exact details of this year’s timings can be found in the event programme.

Throughout the week, regatta festivities continue into the evening with events such as live music performances and outdoor cinema screenings.

Food and drink at the Salcombe Town Regatta
For the foodies amongst us, it’s no secret that the South Hams is a food lover’s paradise, and Salcombe is no exception to the rule. The town regatta is an excellent opportunity to sample local Devon produce with food stalls and pop-up bars in abundance – from fresh seafood and artisan products to locally brewed beers and ciders, you will find something sumptuous at every turn.

Accommodation during the Salcombe Town Regatta
For those planning to attend, we advise booking accommodation well in advance, as Salcombe can get very busy during the regatta week. At Coast & Country Cottages, we have a stunning collection of Salcombe holiday cottages. From centrally based townhouses to luxury waterside properties and spacious countryside escapes, we have something to suit everyone, including four-legged friends!

Book your stay for Salcombe Town Regatta now