Big crowds attend Whitby Regatta

The Grand Turk is one of Whitby's key attractions

Organisers of the 169th Whitby Regatta said they were expecting up to 25 thousand visitors over the three days of the event.

Whitby Tourist Information Centre had to send for more regatta programmes by lunchtime on the opening day.

The event included family activities, boat races, street performers and vintage vehicles.

The finale on Monday featured a firework display and a demonstration by the Red Arrows.

Big crowds attend Whitby Regatta

Regatta Committee President, Cllr Jane Kenyon said: "It's very much the community event. Whitby Regatta is very much in the history of Whitby. We're 169 years old this year. That tells you how precious this festival is to the people of Whitby."

One of the street performers was local musician Michael Wray. He said: "It's absolutely jam-packed. I really enjoy it.

"Some people don't because it's too full, but I love to go on the death slide that the army put up and things like that.

"It's the high point of my year. After that, the summer starts to go downhill, really."

For visitors it's quite a spectacle. We get the air displays, the helicopter rides; everything John Butler, Boson of the Grand Turk

Whitby Regatta celebrates its 170th anniversary in 2010 and, while a big celebration is promised, no details of the event have yet been announced.

Cllr Kenyon said: "The volunteers that run Whitby Regatta are a small band of a committee of 12.

"They work like beavers for 12 months of the year and they have secrets up their sleeves that even I, as president, don't know until they tell me what they are planning, but be assured, it will be spectacular."