The Origins of the Thorpeness Regatta

The Meare was officially opened by Lord Huntingfield on 11th June 1913. One newspaper describes the entrance for members, beneath the clocktower, leading to a westward-facing loggia, ​equipped with chairs and tables, affording a panoramic view of the Meare and its islands. Another publication reports of the fleet of boats, skiffs, dinghies, punts and a squadron of sailing boats with names such as Red Rover or The Blue Bird, topped with a coloured sail matching the name.

Boathouse c 1913

In early August, a Venetian fete and concert was held on the Blue Lagoon. The Thorpeness Vitesse ferried people to and from the concert. Guests waited at the Boat House to be conveyed to the Blue Lagoon where a stage had been moored. A newspaper report describes ‘the grandeur of the scene’ with ‘the light shining across the waters, backed by the purple sunset … with the crescent of the moon just showing through.’ For those who did not wish to view from a boat, chairs were arranged on dry land. Two acetylene searchlights lit the sky until the performance started when only coloured flares provided illumination. After the concert, the guests returned to the fairy light lit Boat House for supper.​

That summer saw a regatta, the Thorpeness Marine Regatta, with the promise of sailing, rowing and swimming matches, novel illuminations in the evening, and fireworks. The event was to be held on 23rd August – one hundred and eleven years to the day of this year’s Regatta.