Big Hats, Fireworks and Samba at Sandown Regatta

Sandown was buzzing thanks to the annual regatta

The Isle of Wight loves a regatta.

The big one, of course, is the Cowes Week sailing regatta. However, the word also seems to apply to a one day seaside festival featuring jollity on the beach and an appearance from the magician Randini.

This was our experience of Sandown Regatta, which we wandered along to this week.

We parked at the big pay and display car park at Sandham Gardens. My mother* joined us considerably later as she had driven round in circles looking for a free parking space. I think she ended up parking in Carisbrooke and walking a few miles (this is a small exaggeration, check out our guide to cheap parking for more sensible ideas).

​There was an impressively large choice of things to choose from at Sandown Regatta, including four different venues.

We started towards the Culver end of Sandown for a few minutes of Punch and Judy, before the planned arrival of the RNLI from Bembridge. They whooshed along the shore whilst the compere played the Baywatch theme tune. I considered stripping off down to my pants and running along the beach, but I concluded that Sandown has suffered enough in recent years.

Punch and Judy with some sausage related fun at Sandown Regatta

It's not usually good news when the RNLI turns up, but it was on this occasion

Hats all folks

I was particularly looking forward to a competition for the best hat, but this was half an hour away, so we walked along the esplanade towards the stalls.

The children were eyeing up items to add to our collection of pointless trinkets, so I quickly intervened and said that I would pay for them to have one go each on one of the charity stalls. I had noticed that these were mostly operating with 1990s prices so felt it was a good move.

"Will it be your money?" child one enquired, seeking a cast iron guarantee that it wouldn't affect her plans to increase her collection of Squishmallows at a future date.

I clarified that it would be my money, as long as they stuck to the 20p charity stalls.

The weather was fluctuating between scorching heat and a cool breeze, so the spending plans were postponed whilst we sat in Sandown Cliffs to cool off with some drinks. I am never quite sure which cliffs this particular restaurant is referring to, but I chose not to bring it up whilst ordering our iced lattes.

My mother arrived at this point, having found her parking space. She reported that she had witnessed the hat competition whilst walking to meet us. I was a little disappointed to have missed this notable event, but these are the sacrifices that come with parenting and a love of iced lattes.

Next up was a samba workshop, where we bashed away on some drums whilst an enthusiastic instructor chanted seaside rhymes. "Sand between your toes! Click click click!" she bellowed at me whilst I walloped a small drum on Sandown esplanade. Mrs Guru sat this one out so she could "watch the bags". I pointed out that the only bag we had was on my back, but this didn't seem to persuade her to pick up a drum.

Two nice police officers provided the next entertainment and allowed the children to sit in their police car with a hat on. I started asking probing questions about the car in the hope that she would suggest that I might like to try on the hat or switch on the blue lights. She didn't take the bait.

Stalling

Child two reminded me about the charity stalls, so we made our way to the Scouts' stall where they could either choose from a one-in-five wins a prize tombola or a prize-every-time tombola.

Child two requested 100% clarification that it definitely wouldn't be her money, even if she went for the prize every time option (we have a complicated rule at Shanklin arcade where I pay for a go on the 'grabbers' unless it's a 'prize every time' grabber, in which case they have to pay from their pocket money).

I clarified that she could indeed have a jam jar full of plastic trinkets and lollies without spending her money. Both children walked away delighted.

Finally, we went to see the Rotary stall where its senior volunteers had constructed a couple of games. This was particularly charming, as the games had clearly been constructed by a pipe-smoking grandad in a shed - including a big map of the Isle of Wight filled with wooden pegs. I coughed up £1 for the children to have two goes each and whooped with joy after child one found a red peg hidden in Arreton.

Mrs Guru told me to give the 50p prize back to the nice old man. I reluctantly agreed on the basis that it could be used to pay for the next game, which was a Price-Is-Right card game at 20p a go with a £2 jackpot. We were foiled on both games, but the children walked away with four lollies as consolation prizes. I'm not exactly sure how they made any money, as they seemed to be quite free and easy with handing out the lollies.

We returned to the car, whilst hardy sorts stayed for the rest of the entertainment including drama performances, music and the evening fireworks.

Support for Sandown

Sandown has taken a bit of a beating in recent years, with several of its seafront hotels having closed and caught fire. It was declared to be a Turd Town by a Youtuber, which we contested with a video of the beach in summer.

Days like this reminded me of what made Sandown popular in the first place, with large numbers of people enjoying the sun, the gorgeous sand and a bit of old-fashioned seaside jollity.

​The plaques along the seafront are also a reminder of how many people consider it to be their favourite place for a holiday. There are multiple messages along the lines of "Our special place, babes" and "50 years of holidays in Sandown - Derek and Deirdre". There's also one that I particularly enjoy which says something like "Every little helps, said the woman as she wee'd in the sea".

It's worth saying that despite the seafront eyesores, the area has also seen significant investment in recent years. There are lots of new apartments popping up near Sandham Gardens, as well as the new Premier Inn. There are a couple of trendy looking seafront things including a bar which has more of a beach club vibe, and a hire place which has bean bags and volleyball rather than your usual parasols and deck chairs. There are also lots of new beach huts and Sandham Gardens itself has grown into an attraction where you could spend a whole day by hopping between the playground, beach, minigolf, bouncy nets and mini go karts.

Sandown Regatta also made it obvious that there are lots of people trying their best to make Sandown more appealing. This certainly wasn't one of those events that is a bit of a let down when you arrive. There were big numbers of people and lots of things going on.

This was my first time visiting Sandown Regatta (in my memory) so I am sure some old whinge bag will chirp up and say "it's not as good as it used to be" but we enjoyed it greatly. Thanks to everyone who made it happen.

Please note: my mother has requested that I stop calling her 'mother' as it makes it sound like she is a Victorian widow and that I am at the end of my tether with her. This is only occasionally the case so I will try and remember to refer to her as 'Mum' when all is well or 'Mother' when I really have reached the end of my tether.