Calendar of Cornwall regattas

 Set sail with your summer plans

Attracting sailors and landlubbers alike, regattas are the pinnacle of many calendars across Cornwall. Whether you’re spectating week-long gig races or soaking up the atmosphere with a spritz in hand, we’ve put together a list of our top recommendations guaranteed to entertain the whole family.

© Left: St Mawes Regatta and Idle Rocks via Instagram. Right: Falmouth Week via Facebook, Cartel Photography and Adam Gibbard via Visit Cornwall. 

St Mawes Town Regatta 

When: Saturday 26th July 2025

This one-day sailing event is the perfect opportunity for the coastal community of St Mawes to showcase their picturesque harbour. Hosting a variety of local and national sailing classes, rowing, kayaking and swimming races, this light-hearted regatta is a fabulous day out for all. Entertain the little ones with beach games, face painting and craft stalls. Alternatively, why not charter your own yacht or explore the beautiful Roseland peninsula and Falmouth Bay in style with your own private skipper on a tailored boat tour? 

St Mawes has plenty of eateries to keep the foodies satisfied, soak up the festivities from the waterfront terrace of the prestigious The Idle Rocks and sample a menu of the finest Cornish produce. 

Good to know: St Mawes Harbour has designated blue badge spaces in the Quay car park as well as in the long stay car park behind the Rising Sun pub. Additionally, adult changing facilities can be found in the public toilets located at the main car park. 

Above: Cornerways in St Mawes

Make a long weekend of it 

Nestled amongst an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on Cornwall’s Roseland Peninsula, Cornerways sits above turquoise seascapes, providing an ideal vantage point over St Mawes. Escape the crowds and find tranquillity on the glass-fronted balcony, before gathering around the kitchen island for memorable holiday suppers. Let the gentle blue hues flooding the property evoke a sense of calm as you settle in for a blissful slumber to the sound of lapping tides.

Stay at Cornerways

Falmouth Week

When: Friday 8th – Sunday 17th August 2025

Originating as a local sailing regatta dating back to 1837, Falmouth Week has evolved into one of the major sailing competitions in the South West. Expect seven days of fleet racing for yachts and dayboats across the expansive waters of Falmouth Bay and estuary. 

Away from the glassy waters, 10 days of shoreside entertainment is guaranteed to pique the interests of the whole family. Local boutiques decorate their facades as part of the annual “Window Dressing Competition”, welcoming an explosion of colour across the town as the marching carnival takes to the streets with the return of decorated floats for 2025. Gather on The Moor for family-friendly activities where the vintage hand-turned carousel stands proudly amongst an eclectic market, live music and art gallery workshops. Don’t miss out on the spectacular Red Arrows flypast over the bay, scheduled for Wednesday 13th at 6:15pm. 

Good to know: All public toilets across Falmouth offer disabled access and baby changing facilities. The closest accessible toilets to The Moor can be found at Prince of Wales Pier, please note a RADAR key is required for entry. Accessible changing places equipped with specialist amenities such as a hoist and changing bench can be found at Grove Place, call 01326 315 559 to receive the PIN code for entry. 

© Left: Fowey Royal Regatta, Fowey Sailing and J M Photography via Instagram. Right: North Street Kitchen via Intagram. 

Fowey Royal Regatta 

When: Sunday 17th – Saturday 23rd August 2025

As one of Britain’s most prestigious sailing events, it’s no surprise Fowey Regatta is known to attract royalty. This week-long racing event includes gig racing, as well as hosting the famous Troys, a class of sailing boat built exclusively in Fowey. 

Alongside daily sailing events, Fowey regatta is renowned for its “Giant Pasty Ceremony” whereby the town band helps transport an eight-foot pasty across the harbour from Polruan to Fowey, before distributing among spectators. With a schedule guaranteed to delight all generations, expect a classic car show, traditional crowning of the carnival queen, swimming races and crab-catching competitions. Fowey’s winding old streets come alive as the trader’s carnival sees shopkeepers dress up in the yearly theme and parade through the town. 

Take a seat on the harbour for the perfect vantage point to watch the magical torch light dinghy procession cross the water while listening to live bands, before grabbing a table at North Street Kitchen for day-boat catches and estuary views.

Good to know: Accessible toilets can be found at the town Quay as well as the main town car park. Please be aware that Fowey is an ancient harbour town with narrow and steep roads, therefore some terrain may be challenging for those with limited mobility. 

Above: Ria Reach in Fowey 

Stay a while

Stay in the heart of Fowey at Ria Reach. Designed with the expansive views over Fowey and Polruan as the focal point, this reverse living home is an idyllic escape for up to eight guests this summer. After a day exploring the ancient town, retire to the private palm-lined terrace for a moment of calm while you soak in the last of the days rays with a glass of fizz. 

Discover Ria Reach

More dates for your diary

Looe Lugger Classics Regatta 
When: 25th -27th July 2025
Stay nearby: Eden and Sea Edge 
Where to dine: After a day spectating fleets of sailing boats, head to Yamas for an authentic Greek meze of seasonal produce. Share plates of calamari, octopus and souvlaki while enjoying riverside views. 
 

Flushing Village Regatta
When: Saturday 26th July – Sunday 3rd August 2025
Stay nearby: Cornerways 
Where to dine: Feast on delectable small plates and day boat catches cooked over charcoal embers at the Harbour House in Flushing, the perfect waterside setting to sit back and watch the regatta in action. 

Image credits: St Mawes Regatta, Idle Rocks, Fowey Sailing, J M Photography and North Street Kitchen via Instagram. Falmouth Week via Facebook. Cartel Photography and Adam Gibbard via Visit Cornwall. All other images are our own.