In response to the letter by S Gilmore, April 7, you are ­clearly an ideas person! You also appear to be exactly the sort of person who we are keen to have join our regatta ­committee to assist, add, ­generate and push forward new ideas, such as duelling pirate galleons.

We would absolutely love to see you at our next committee meeting at Dartmouth Amateur Rowing Club, May 5, at 7.30pm, not only to share your ideas – although I fear that the galleon has already sailed for 2017 – but perhaps to give even more organisational power to the existing waterborne programme of treasure hunts, dinghy sailing, stand-up ­paddleboarding, canoeing, the whaler, gig and Western Eastern Roadracing Association race programme, Kon-Tiki raft racing, rowing tug-of-war, and of course, the extensive joint regatta sailing committee ­sailing programme – and ­guidance on the health and safety, insurance and financing of these exciting events.

As you say, there is always room for more activity on the river, and it seems as if you are just the type to offer us more.

Even in its most simple form, our regatta is a complex jigsaw of so many interdependent activities, responsibilities, opportunities and of course fundraising; and we are always on the lookout for new ideas and new volunteers willing to step up and follow them through as part of the existing committed team.

As an aside, while the RAF Typhoon and Lancaster charge to display, the RAF Red Arrow flypast is free of charge – so ‘why not?’ as opposed to ‘why bother?,’ perhaps – and it is with great regret that we no longer have any control at all over the Mayor’s Avenue car park.

I don’t think it even forms part of the likely devolution of resources from South Hams District Council to the town council.

But when we did think about it a few years ago, we ­wondered about turning it into a beach, but there you go… there is no monopoly on good ideas.

Ed Botterill

chairman

Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta

Newcomen Road

Dartmouth