The regatta will be bringing the focus back to the water, while the air display will not be a feature this year.

The committee are pleased to announce that the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta will be focussing on the town’s biggest asset, the River Dart, focussing on former regattas where the emphasis was on competitive rowing and sailing. The regatta will be running from August 30, to September 1, 2018.

The normal entertainment will still be in place with live music in the Royal Avenue Gardens and the Regatta Market in the Old Market Square. In addition, the annual Regatta tennis tournament will be celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Started in 1822, the Regatta was formerly a one day event with three sailing races and one rowing race. This year, the regatta which is the 174th will be returning in some ways to the original event all those years ago.

Some crowd favourites will be coming to Dartmouth including the RNLI and Newfoundland dog displays, the Illuminated Boat Procession, the Classic Craft review, the steamboat rally and road races.

For fancy dress lovers, this year’s theme is Sea Creatures and the hugely popular Spot the Oddity competition will be running all week.

Another date for the diary is the traditional Royal Regatta Ball on Tuesday, August 28, to be held in the Guildhall this year.

However, this year the Regatta committee has decided not to stage an air display due to the expense of extra administration and requirements involved such as road closures, traffic orders, park and ride and the complete clearance beneath the areas of the display.

The Flying Display Director on the committee is maintaining close links with display teams throughout the country and hopes to report a return of some flying displays in 2019.

One highlight for the Regatta Saturday night is two fantastic Flyboarding displays from local man, James Prestwood. This extreme sport will showcase James performing stunts and tricks at 50 feet above the River Dart, followed by the Saturday night firework display.

The souvenir programme will be available from August 1, from Pillars, Holliss Filling Station, Dartmouth Visitor centre and Kingswear Stores and Kingswear Post Office