Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority
At Dart Harbour, we are delighted once again to be helping with the harbour aspects of the Royal Regatta 2011! Harbour staff will be on hand, to the best of our ability, to promote a safe and timely series of events. As most will know, there will be an incredibly large number of vessels both underway and moored in the harbour.
River users not involved in the Regatta are to keep clear of the organised waterborne events and exercise particular caution when underway in the River Dart during this period. Some of the events require us to close certain parts of the river for short periods of time so we can maximise safety. You are requested to take heed of these areas and timings detailed in the Notices to Mariners below. Failure to do so could result in an accident, or an air display being cancelled. Some of the events on the river are in the following paragraphs:
Firework Displays. There will be 2 firework displays: Thursday 25 August 2100-2130 in the ‘Bight’, and Saturday 27 August 2100-2130 mid river opposite the ‘Boat Float’.
An exclusion zone will be in force for both events. No vessels will be permitted in this area between 2045 and the end of the display on the appointed days. Harbour Authority vessels will be on patrol to keep this zone clear. Skippers of vessels must obey harbour staff instructions. Local Notice to Mariners 14/11 contains more detail and a diagram of the display area.
Aerial Displays. Currently 7 aircraft displays and 1 parachute drop into the river are scheduled during regatta. An exclusion zone in the main channel between the higher and lower ferries will be in force for all displays. No vessels will be permitted in exclusion zones between ten minutes before scheduled display start and the end of the display. Harbour Authority vessels will be on patrol to keep these zones clear. Skippers of vessels must obey harbour staff instructions.
Local Notice to Mariners 15/11 contains details of display timings and a diagram of exclusion zones.
Rowing Events. Both local rowing and West of England Amateur Rowing Association (WEARA) events will take place during and before regatta. Mariners are reminded of their responsibilities when approaching other vessels, and are to keep clear of these events, held between Noss Marina and the Lower Ferry, where safe and practicable.
Rowing events will have their own dedicated support and safety craft in attendance. Local Notice to Mariners 16/11 contains details of event timings and a diagram of the race area.
Sailing Events. There will be a high volume of sailing activity in and near the harbour during regatta period. Regatta sailing events include dinghy sailing within the river at Dittisham and Kingswear, and yacht and day boat racing outside the river.
Sailing skippers en route to the start, or returning to berth, are reminded to navigate with particular caution and have due consideration for other river users. All other vessels are reminded of their responsibilities to give way to sailing vessels. Local Notice to Mariners 17/11 contains details of event timings and a diagram of any race areas within the harbour.
To summarise, we at Dart Harbour wish everyone a safe and fun regatta 2011! If you have any questions about management of the harbour during the regatta please speak to a member of staff, call the office on (01803) 832337 or visit our website at www.dartharbour.org. Don’t forget lifejackets are useless unless worn!
