Dinghy racing, rowing, swimming races and homemade rafts sinking in front of a crowd. Every harbour village has a version.
From July into late August the harbour villages run their regattas. Saundersfoot, Solva, Dale, Newport at the Parrog and Tenby all have their own, and the smaller ones are advertised on a laminated sheet in the village shop rather than anywhere findable online.
The sailing is the serious part: dinghy classes racing round marks off the beach, with a committee boat and a start gun. Dale is the sailing centre of the county because the Haven gives reliable wind and sheltered water, and its racing is properly competitive.
The rest is not serious at all, which is the appeal. Swimming races off the beach, rowing, greasy pole, tug of war, and the raft race — teams building something out of barrels and pallets, launching it, and mostly not finishing. Crowds line the harbour wall for this specifically.
Where to watch. Harbour walls and headlands. At Saundersfoot the harbour arm gives you the water and the beach at once; at Solva the walk up onto the Gribin gives you the whole inlet from above.
The honest bit. Everything is tide-dependent, so start times are set by the water rather than by convenience, and they shift year to year. Some events get cancelled outright if there is swell in the bay. Nothing here is on a timetable you can rely on more than a few days out.
Practical. Harbour villages have small car parks and the regatta fills them. Park at the top and walk down. Wisemans Bridge and Coppet Hall are the overflow for Saundersfoot.
Coastal villages run summer regattas: dinghy and yacht racing, rowing, swimming races, raft races and harbour events, usually over a weekend or a week.
Before you plan around this
Dates change every year — check with the organiser before you travel
We don't sell tickets and take no commission on any of these — links go straight to whoever runs it.
Accommodation books up around the bigger events — Saundersfoot especially.
Saundersfoot · Sleeps 2 · 1 bed
This super seaside apartment part of a converted hotel just 200 metres from the golden sandy beaches and harbour in the popular year-round resort of Saundersfoot on the Pembrokeshire coast. The coastal path runs right along the village and stretches for 186 miles ideal for walker
Bookable via holidaycottages.co.uk
Saundersfoot · Sleeps 2 · 1 bed
This delightful accommodation part of a converted former hotel is just a short level walk from the beach and harbour at Saundersfoot a super seaside village. The coastal path runs right along the village extending for 186 miles in total across the National Park perfect for walker
Bookable via holidaycottages.co.uk
Saundersfoot · Sleeps 2 · 1 bed
This super apartment was part of a converted former hotel refurbished in 2016 and is less than 200 metres from the delightful harbour and golden sandy beaches of Saundersfoot making this a fantastic year-round holiday destination. The coastal path runs through the seaside village
Bookable via holidaycottages.co.uk
The county's agricultural show at Withybush: cattle lines, showjumping, food halls and a main ring, over two days in mid-August.
mid-August, midweek · Shows & agricultural
Round hide-and-lath boats raced on the Teifi under a castle, in one of the last places in Britain where coracles were properly worked.
a Saturday in August · Community
Boathouse open, crew talking, and an all-weather lifeboat launched down the slipway in front of you.
through the summer, individual dates by station · Community