Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta 2026

As in previous years we have not allowed any plastic straws to be used by bars and traders, and both have also used recycled and reusable plastic glasses - indeed the ones used this year have already been used at the event for more than 3 years previously! With the unusually hot weather in the UK this year (5 heatwaves and counting) not only did we continue to publicise our existing water refill provision (in Regatta Programme sent on We Transfer) but also working with the Dart Harbour Authority, repurposed and checked for quality 3 x additional water refill statins with Rowers and competitors specifically in mind.

As above, we continue to not allow (and check that it is enforced) plastic straws with any of our bars or street vendors.

All of our vendors must use recyclable food ware, again checked and enforced. The majority of our food vendors are also within a 25 mile radius, so we also continue to reduce 'food production' miles as much as we can.

Plastic single use bags are completely forbidden. All bags for skippers are a combination of reusable, cloth bags or as far as we can - solely digital content. We also started to sell Regatta branded Tote bags as a small trial this year - we will review the trial pending a wider roll out for Regatta 182 in 2027.

It really couldn't get more perpetual than our silver trophies and mugs! Many are over 100yrs old and our mugs not only get used every day of the year by their winners, but we also sell the old stock from previous years (dating back 6-8yrs now) for people to use and perpetuate further. Our Silverware and 2026 mug design are attached. All Sailing winners received both a mug and also a wooden Trophy made from re-used/recycled wood locally (made 10 miles away) - photo as att.

Well, it's been a bumper year with the introduction of our Community and Environmental Day on Sat 22 Aug 26 (online, website, programme and social media) incorporating numerous local environmental organisations such as: BeWild, 'Til the Coast is Clear, Responsible Crabbing, Dartmouth Tourism, Dartmouth Town Council, Dartmouth Candlelit Festival, English Heritage, South West Fund for Nature, Dartmouth Food Festival, Dartmouth Community Chest Charity, River Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority. ... and what's more, it was free for all to exhibit and absolutely nothing was for sale - we even provided free tea, coffee, soft drinks and cake for all who attended!

As above and in the Regatta Programme - we ran a new initiative of a Community and Environmental Day on Sat 22 Aug 26. We involved not only the Environmental Organisations as shown for Best Practice 6, but also our Sister events throughout the year in Dartmouth Town (Food Festival and Candlelit to name 2). We also involved the Tourism Office (Explore Dartmouth) and the Town Council. We aimed to have a broad and interesting day - with absolutely nothing for sale (free to attend for stalls and visitors, free to experience and no pressure to 'buy, buy, buy'). We were able to supply free drinks and cake to all who attended and gave out well over 200 cups of tea(!), almost as many coffees and a cake with each. Please see our social media and the Programme p56-57 for full info.

Our trusty road signs were in evidence for the 4th or 5th year running now - they really have been reused! We need c50 of them each year and we haven't had to replace one yet! We conducted a recycling experiment this year in partnership with South Hams District Council - it becomes law next year to separate recycling at events at source and they were keen to use us as an experiment in advance of the law changing. They provided us with signage and stickers to assist in even more effective recycling as att.

One of our main sponsors are Bays Brewery (p42) who are are closest independent brewers - they use the Regatta recyclable cups (also on p42). Our food offering, whilst reducing year on year to assist established local business provision in town, is also 'Devon first' with as many providers coming from as close as possible (indeed both our pizza and cookie providers had to drive home to make more dough in-between the lunch/supper rush - and still managed to sell out!).

We've almost moved on from a Green Team - as every facet of the event is now Environmentally minded. Reduced paperwork, marksetbots, no stickers, reusable 'everything', community and locally focused - right down to using the same polo shirt for our Regatta Committee that were first issued for the 175th Regatta in 2019. It's all pervasive and at the core of what we do.

As previously seen! Our 30 x 1100litre waste bins are emptied every day and rotated all day to ensure they don't over flow. We were, again for 2026, lucky enough to have 2 x dedicated waste Operatives on site throughout. The moved and emptied bins and then when not doing that, litterpicked throughout town all day. It was again a great partnership with South Hams and in particular 2 x District Councillors (Yardy and Cooper) who match-funded the cost of 1 x Operative to allow us a pair throughout!

As far as possible and in accordance with the SHDC festival waste experiment we had separate bins and waste signs to allow for this to happen - it's difficult but we are getting there.

The Event management was (as far as possible) paper-free. There were 2 x hard copies of the event management plan for emergencies, and a single hard copy of the overarching Risk Assessment - but apart from that, we are successfully reducing the need for paperwork year on year.

Well, as for every year - we don't have a beach!! However, from 0800hrs on Sun 30 Aug, the entire Committee and volunteers descend on town and successfully clean it from one end to the other - and we were done and clear in all respects by 1400hrs this year (a new record!). Over the week we remove 33,000litres of waste a day and leave town as tidy as possible before we finish for the evening at approx. 0100hrs, and then litter-pick each morning. We didn't have a single overflowing bin this year and managed 2 x dedicated cardboard refuse removal for traders.

As always, this is absolutely key for the sailors and rowers. Rowers are easier - with no works or risks required during the event; for sailors, this is covered and enforced with great detail by the Joint Regatta Sailing Committee (website here:https://dartmouthsailingweek.com).

Hopefully covered at 6. above and on website and in programme. A new initiative this year was a 'plastic free crabbing competition'. In partnership withhttps://www.tillthecoastisclear.co.uk we publicised crab line waste at the Environmental day, then asked people to help make their own plastic free crabbing lines and had stock to give people non-plastic kits if they turned up without - a tremendous success and on Social media on Fri 28 Aug.

With 60-80,000 visitors it is always difficult - but a bywords are to 'arrive early and stay all day'. We have a large park and ride, alternative bus routes and both steam trains and a paddle steamer to assist in lightening our load. We do more each year and we provide information on ways to get here (and away!) on p82.

With the majority of our events, activities and entertainment being based within 250m of the centre of town, we already have little to zero emissions. Rowing, Kon Tiki, raft races and dinghy sailing in the harbour/estuary will remain at zero - sailing will require power to get them out of the river; it's difficult to reduce further. However we did use the second electric ferry from the Harbour master and DHNA for our most high profile visit this year - of our Patron, His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Devon. He visited for a few hours and enjoyed watching events ashore and afloat.

Well, we're inspired to keep going - I think we are into our 'stride' of getting going and making incremental gains! The rowers keep on adding human-powered events and the wind keeps blowing - so we should be 'ok'! But can always do just a little better. The Community and Environmental Day was a huge success, involving so many local people and visitors learning ad doing things differently - in their home, gardens or generally around town - BeWild (Dartmouth) were our partners and it's a great initiative: https://bewild.uk