Dartmouth Regatta Sailing Adventure

Pilgrim’s Dartmouth Regatta Sailing Adventure is one of the highlights of our season.

Join Pilgrim for our Dartmouth Regatta Sailing Adventure. Now running for over 200 years, the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta is a spectacular celebration of maritime heritage and community spirit. Held annually on the stunning River Dart in Devon, UK, it combines thrilling sailing and rowing races with sports, live music, family entertainment, and other vibrant shoreside festivities. Visitors enjoy a unique blend of sport, tradition, and celebration, crowned by breathtaking evening fireworks and a great Devonian welcome. On Pilgrim, you’ll have the chance to see the racing from a unique perspective as well as participating in the Regatta River Parade on the Saturday afternoon.

Pilgrim is a fully restored heritage sailing trawler, and a proud member of the UK National Historic Fleet. She was built in Brixham in 1895 at Upham’s Yard, which was located right next to where she now berths.

Sailing on Pilgrim – An Experience of a Lifetime

Sailing on Pilgrim is a real life adventure! You can learn how the very first trawlermen used to handle these heavy and powerful vessels. If you’d like to, you will be able to work alongside the crew to sail Pilgrim in the traditional manner, or you can relax and enjoy the sail. Either way, you’ll enjoy the modern guest facilities we have on board.

Your Dartmouth Royal Regatta Sailing Adventure will involve sailing with a fleet of racing yachts and other classic and heritage vessels together with time ashore to soak up the atmosphere and events. During Regatta, there are a huge number of shore based events and entertainment. We normally berth on the Town Jetty during Regatta, giving you plenty of time to visit the shoreside attractions and the perfect view of the Saturday night firework display! Dartmouth is a special place to be over that weekend.

We don’t race Pilgrim as that is inconsistent with our conservation and safety obligations, but we’ll be in the Regatta River Parade. In between all of the festival excitement, we’ll go sailing in the Dart Estuary and along the coast to quieter coves to relax and enjoy the beauty of the South Devon coast. Our programme will, as ever, be dependent on the weather and tides. Wherever we go, you will be able to enjoy exhilarating sailing and soak up the fabulous scenery and the wonderful wildlife.

Take a look at Pilgrim in full sail leaving Dartmouth here. You can find out more about life on board Pilgrim by reading our SAILING GUIDE. This tells you all the practical things you’ll need to know to make the best of your time onboard. If you would like to read reviews of guest experiences on Pilgrim check them out here.

Life on Board our Brixham Sailing Trawler

Accommodation is arranged in two shared sleeping areas, one of six berths and the other of four berths. Our bunks are wide and comfortable! There’s very little storage onboard though so pack light and into a soft holdall. For more room or even your own ‘en-suite facilities’ please enquire by email. These are offered subject to availability on certain sailings by payment of a supplement. Contact sailing@pilgrimofbrixham.org.uk

Prices quoted are per single berth to include all meals as described below.

Additional information

Embarkation Time / Port	12h00, Brixham
Disembarkation Time / Port	12h00, Brixham
What is included	√ All onboard refreshments/meals, √ Berthing, mooring & fuel costs, √ Bunk linen, √ Use of lifejacket and other onboard safety gear
What is not included	× Alcoholic drinks, × Car park fees at home port, × Towels, × Wet weather clothing, x Ensuite or additional space that is subject to availability for a supplement, Travel insurance – over 12 miles
Important Notes	* Please make sure you understand our Terms and Conditions and the cancellation policy, * Travel Insurance is required which covers ‘Adventure Sailing more than 12 nautical miles offshore

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Boarding & briefing

Guests are asked to embark at 12h00. The skipper and crew will then run through the plans for the trip, get to understand guest preferences and give the essential safety briefing. Information on finding Pilgrim and on parking and transportation arrangements are in the Sailing Guide and on the website.

Plan for the voyage

This all depends on the wind, the weather and the tide. We will be sailing out of Brixham and cruising the Dart estuary and the coast of south Devon. We will also be in Dartmouth or in the river estuary for key parts of the Regatta

Hands-on or sit back and relax

Our past guests frequently tell us that getting involved in helping to sail Pilgrim was of the day, so we encourage everyone to help the crew sail the boat. Don’t worry! They’ll show you the ropes and support you. Alternatively, if you just want to relax and enjoy the sailing and the scenery, you can sit back and leave it to others. Lifejackets are provided for all on board and are compulsory unless the skipper advises otherwise.

Food and beverages

You will start the trip with a light lunch. We’ll follow that up with afternoon tea and a two course dinner. Each day we will serve breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and a two course dinner. On the final morning we will serve breakfast before you return to Brixham at midday. The menu will be dictated by the fresh ingredients we can source and the weather conditions and our situation from day-to-day.

What to wear and bring

Even in summer it can still be cool out at sea so we suggest you bring extra warm layers and maybe a hat. You should also come prepared with wet weather gear. Don’t forget your phone or camera to capture the stunning scenery and amazing wildlife. it is important to bring sun screen to protect yourself and if you think you might need it – consider a travel sickness remedy before you set off – just in case.

Something to remember our heritage sailing experience

We have a range of branded clothing and other items in available in our online shop. Why not order before you leave home and it can be available for you to collect on the boat. We love to see guests photos and share them on our social media.