Captain Tom’s Regatta Report 2023

Once again the Port Navas Regatta defied the weather forecasts and we had a windy but rain-free, warm day.  One of our participants summarised it in the following way; “A brilliant happy regatta!  The day flowed, it was fun, easy, and a lovely vibe.  From start to finish a really great time.” 

In the Ladies & Gents pairs Phil Badger and Jill Pascoe won again – having first won the race together in 1968 aged 17  – and many times in-between.  Sam Winfrey won the overall men’s cup for the 4th time, overtaking his dad’s record of three wins.  And Jill Pascoe won the overall points win for the Ladies capping yet another fine year at the PN Regatta.  

For all the winners, see results below.

The fun race, with 11 teams and some 60 people of all ages splashing around collecting ducks, was a great event with one capsized boat and one almost-sinking boat (all safely looked after by the safety team) and with Team Gerry Blackstone Karapanos finding the lucky duck to claim victory. 

For our younger particpants, the three-legged race was a blast, along with the sprint and egg-and-spoon:

We had a gentle go at encouraging a nautical fancy dress and the Committee hope to build on this for next year.  Pirate Paul Amey won the prize this year, with Captain Tom as runner up. 

Thanks to The Constantine Silver Band who provided delightful regatta music for all those eating and drinking at PNYC.  

Following Prize Giving at the yacht club, we saw the introduction of the Human Fruit Machine which was brilliant and WILL be back next year by popular request. 

This was followed by some beautiful singing from The Lemonaires Cornish Male Voice Choir and then local singer Charlie Blundel banging out some crowd favourites that almost everyone sang and danced along to.

The money raised will go towards all the costs in running the regatta next year and then to some very local, small charities.  The amount raised and the chosen charities will be added to this page as soon as the final reckoning has taken place.  

And the beer didn’t run out !

If you have some lovely pictures or movies that you are happy to share, please forward them to jeff@mdws.net.  We can’t promise to publish everything!

A HUGE thanks from the Committee to all the volunteer’s because without their help this event just would not take place.  THANKYOU to the volunteers who ran the games, the kids running races, the Tombola and the Grand Draw; to all those who helped setting up the games, tents, cups and doing gardening or mowing fields for events and parking; to the team that set up the water based courses, moved the boats (and put them all back) and ran the pontoon all day and to the safety and prize teams on the water; to the Cake Stall team and all those who provided and baked for it; to Melissa & Sarah and their team for running the bar and doing fabulous food; to all the volunteers who helped with rubbish collection during the event; to the Tombola collection team & donators and the parking attendants; to Phil and Lulu Badger on the mic; to our external providers and sponsors and to those that helped pack everything away on Sunday.  And to all who came and enjoyed a wonderful day at beautiful Port Navas.  See you all next year.

RESULTS:

• Veteran’s Rowing Race – Men & Ladies over 55 – Jill Pasco Laddies & James Phillips Men
• Pair of paddles – Girls and Boys 17 and under – Nina Newton 
• Blindfold Rowing Race – Sam Winfrey & Olly  Baker
• Swimming Ladies – Eva Martin
• Pair of Paddles – Girl or Boy under 13 – First Gile Nina Newton and First Boy Sam Winfrey
• Swimming – Men – Joe Gowans
• Mother and Child (12 and under) Rowing Race – Jackson & Verity Cunliffe
• Swimming – Girls and Boys 16 and under – Girls Isabel and Boys Joshua Wright
• Father and Child (12 and under) Rowing Race – just checking 
• Row and Run 13 and under
• Pair of Paddles – Ladies 
• Row and Run Adults
• Kayak Race under 15 – Barney Ford
• Inflatable Paddle Board Race – Olly Baker 
• Kayak Race 15 and over – Fionn Glazzard
• Fun Race – grab the lucky duck – Team Gerry Blackstone Karapanos
• Pairs Rowing Race – Lady and Gent of any age – Jill Pascoe & Phil Badger
• Greatest Number of Points – Ladies Winner Jill Pascoe and Men’s Winner Sam Winfrey

Thanks to our photographers: Jennie Bryant | David Cross | Ant Gray | Jeff Meadows |