Weymouth’s wet, wet, wet…Trawler Race Day.

In amongst my gathering pile of old Weymouth and Portland negatives I’ve come across a few from the good old days when Weymouth had a large fishing fleet to be proud of and the spirit of fun to enjoy the day.

At one time Weymouth used to have their very own Trawler Race Day.

Now this wasn’t quite as straight forwards as it at first sounds.

It was a boat race, but certainly a race with a difference.

It involved said trawlers, but it also involved a LOT of water, (we’re not talking just sea water here), and maybe just a smidgen of alcohol.

The local trawlers would get busy decorating their vessels in all manner of ways…

…usually helped by various groups and patrons of local drinking hostelries.

Looks like the Wellington Arms busy on board…

Crowds would line the harbourside jostling alongside colourful stalls that would try their damnedest to pry the precious pennies from their purses.

Of course, the harbourside drinking holes did a roaring trade, thirsty work this…

Sharks ahoy…wonder how long she lasted before she got blasted off by someone’s water cannon!

You might wonder why some slightly more timid people on board wore waterproofs…come to that, so did a few of the wily locals on land.

They knew exactly what was about to go down!

Maybe the lad holding the end of the hose from the pump might give you a clue…it paid not to be stood in the wrong place!

All in all, it was great fun.

Ship ahoy….
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Enjoy reading a bit of good old Weymouth gossip.

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