PIRATES, guests and four-legged friends enjoyed the pre-summer holiday Havelet Regatta in aid of the Guernsey Cheshire Home.
Moving the date from its usual September slot proved worthwhile for the event, as hundreds of local families were drawn to its fourth seaside event.
Along with food, music and stalls, traditional fete games and accessible activities sailed along the South Esplanade, while Havelet Bay hosted all the favourite regatta antics.
Five pirate statues, which had voluntarily been restored for Iris & Dora, stood on the shore, guarding the beach activity.
Practising their chalkboard skills up on dry land were cousins Lauren and Holly Kerslake-Smith – first-time island visitors.
‘I’ve drawn “I heart Guernsey” because I’m really enjoying this lovely little island, and definitely want to come back,’ said 16-year-old Holly.
‘We’re loving this event,’ said Lauren.
‘We just stumbled on it, and think it’s brilliant. A very good cause and lots of creative activities. We’ve come over from Bournemouth, we didn’t realise there was so much going on in Guernsey.’
Event organiser Barrie Duerden said the regatta, established by his family, aims to encompass the bay’s sea-faring offerings, with traditional fete games, classic beach activities, and accessible family fun. Swimmers and sailors raced at sea, while dogs – big and small – put their best sandy paw forward on the popular agility course. Youngsters rolled along on the closed-off section of road, enjoying balance bikes with Ezyrollers and a new skateboarding zone.
‘We’ve got a close association with Guernsey Cheshire Home, and decided early on that we wanted to support it,’ said Mr Duerden.
‘It’s an important local charity that needs to raise £500,000 every year to run. My wife Odette’s family have long been involved with the Rocquaine Regatta, and we thought there should be something similar at Havelet. We’re very happy to say that it’s worked very well.
‘Accessibility is hugely important to us, and this is an accessible location.
‘We’ve got ramps, disabled toilets and parking – every measure we can. And also wanted to make it sustainable – all the games are human-powered, and we put out recycling bins. We do have music, but there’s only one central generator pulling power, rather than lots of little ones.’
After a smooth-sailing fourth year, Mr Duerden said the organising committee was now finding its feet.
‘The things that we worry about now are things we didn’t even know about four years ago,’ he said.
‘We know exactly what we’re doing now. Down to the amount of certain components needed for each of the different set-ups. The people involved are much more au fait with it and we’ve got a real rhythm. We’re a committee of about 10, and it took us four hours to set up. We had about 200 people down the beach earlier, and there’s been lots of footfall up here.’
He also thanked the event sponsors. ‘We couldn’t do any of this without them.’
Mum Jasmine Carrington had brought her two children along. Her three-year-old daughter, Savannah had just delighted in having a go at Splash Attack with her older brother, Elijah, 5.
‘They’re having so much fun,’ she said. ‘It’s great to find nice things like this for them to do together.’
Guernsey Cheshire Home provides care and opportunity for the physically disabled, with some residents aged in their 30s and 40s. Chairman Rob Shepherd said the Havelet Regatta was a great support.
‘It’s got two aspects to it – raising our profile and raising money,’ he said.
‘It’s amazing how this community event has developed in its four years. It feels really established now, and it’s a great time. We rely on donations and legacies to run. Last year this event raised nearly £10,000, and hopefully it’ll raise even more this year.
‘I’ve also had a conversation with a potential donor just now. So it gives us that opportunity to meet face-to-face, and talk about our charity.’
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