Premier Marinas, which owns and operates two marinas on the River Dart – Noss on Dart Marina and Dartmouth Marina – is once again supporting this year’s Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta.
The 181st Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta takes place from 26 – 29 August. Premier’s involvement will be greater than ever, with Premier Noss on Dart Marina, Premier Dartmouth Marina, Dart Marina Hotel and the Dartmouth Higher Ferry supporting some of the Regatta’s best-known events.
Andrew Lewis, Sales & Marketing Director at Premier Marinas, says: “Since adding Dartmouth Marina to our network earlier this year, Premier has an even stronger presence on the River Dart – and being a good neighbour means looking beyond the boundaries of our marinas. The Regatta is a hugely important event for the town and we are proud to be increasing our investment and helping the volunteer team stage activities that bring together local people, businesses, boaters and visitors.”
Premier Noss on Dart Marina returns as a silver sponsor and will once again sponsor the Royal Regatta River Parade on Saturday 29 August.
Setting out from Noss on Dart at 2pm, the parade will be led by HMS Blazer and HMS Express accompanied by two Britannia Royal Naval College whalers. It will then travel downriver towards Dartmouth before the traditional salute is taken outside Dartmouth Yacht Club. Two RNLI Wesley Offshore lifeboats will close the parade in recognition of this year’s theme, “Guardians of the River”, which recognises the organisations and individuals who help protect and support life on the River Dart.
Prizes will be awarded for the best-dressed vessel and crew, the best salute and the winning classic craft. Boats of different types are invited to participate, with registration available through the Dartmouth Regatta website.
Laura Campbell, Event Lead for the River Parade at Dartmouth Regatta, added: “Having worked alongside the team at Premier Marinas on town events for nearly ten years, their support for our community has always come from a genuine desire to see it thrive. We began with the relaunch of the River Parade for Dartmouth Mayflower 400 in 2020, moving to Dartmouth Regatta in 2021, and they’ve supported the event ever since. Following Premier’s recent acquisitions, we’re delighted to grow that relationship through continued support for the Kontiki Raft Race and the Rowing. The River Dart is the heart and soul of this town, and we look forward to continuing our partnership for years to come.”
Premier Dartmouth Marina and Dart Marina Hotel are also supporting the Regatta as silver sponsors and will sponsor the LVA Ladies Whaler Race.
The distinctive colour-coded whalers are unique to Dartmouth and are crewed by teams representing local businesses and organisations. The heats take place on the Sunday and Monday before the official Regatta begins, with the finals held on Regatta Friday.
The Dartmouth Higher Ferry, which became part of Premier following its acquisition of the Dart Marina Group in April 2026, will sponsor the popular Kon-Tiki Raft Race. Taking place from the Boat Float at 10am on Saturday 29 August, the event challenges teams to build and race their own rafts, with children’s, family and adult categories.
Premier will also be running a competition during the Regatta, to win a stay in the forthcoming Noss on Dart Hotel, which is currently in development.
Premier’s support for the Regatta forms part of its wider commitment to the Dartmouth area. The group also sponsored the Dart Music Festival in May and will support the Dartmouth Food Festival in October.
Premier acquired the Dart Marina Group earlier this year, bringing Dart Marina, Dart Marina Hotel and the Dartmouth Higher Ferry into the group. The marina has since been integrated into its South Coast network as Premier Dartmouth Marina, joining Premier Noss on Dart Marina on the opposite side of the river.
For more information about the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta, including how to register for the River Parade and Kon-Tiki Raft Race, visit www.dartmouthregatta.co.uk
