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Ed Botterill, Dartmouth Regatta Chairman
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The Red Arrows
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Volvo Cars
Ed Botterill, the new Chairman confirms plans for this year's Regatta, including the expected display by the Red Arrows, and announces a new headline sponsor in an exclusive interview in By The Dart magazine (May 2016 issue
For the full interview, click here
Red Arrows
One of the major issues facing Ed and the committee this year, in the wake of last year’s awful Shoreham air show disaster, is how to manage this year’s air display and people’s expectations.
Initial findings and interim guidance from the Civil Aviation Authority have been published and it confirms a restricted area will remain beneath air displays, where movement and access must remain controlled.
So this year the Red Arrows will perform two fly pasts but no display over the river. The Typhoon, which operates under different criteria, will perform a full display.
Ed said: ‘The place we find ourselves this year has got to be viewed through the lens of Shoreham. All air displays are being looked at closely by the CAA – everything is under a real magnifying glass.
‘If we can demonstrate good behaviour with a couple of fly pasts and a full Typhoon display that then stands us in good stead for a full Red Arrows display next year, even if that means clearing the river to do it.
Ed said he wants to stress that, although the air displays pull in crowds, the regatta is about much more than what is happening in the skies above the town.
‘The regatta is not just about air displays, as amazing as flight director, Jason Aylett, has made them over the years. It’s about rowing, sailing, road races and darts competitions, in fact all of it,’ he added.
‘Not having the focus on the air displays gives us more focus on the town and to do different things. For example, this year we have a gig regatta on the Saturday, with visiting gigs invited from Brixham and Salcombe. Not having to clear the river for air displays has actually given us some more freedom."
New Regatta Sponsor - Volvo Cars
Fresh to the regatta this year is a new principal sponsor, Volvo Cars UK. Volvo Cars are major sponsors of sailing in the UK and their sponsorship will include a full day of sailing on the final Saturday as well as junior events earlier in the week. They will also be having a display stand at Coronation Park throughout Regatta week.
Volvo Cars are sponsors of Team Volvo many of whom will be competing in Rio.
Ed added: ‘We’re planning a terrific event on the final Saturday of Regatta when we will be joined by members of Team Volvo who’ll be arriving straight from Rio with, fingers crossed, a clutch of medals.’