Ed Botterill, chairman, Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta, writes:

I was somewhat surprised at the criticism levelled against the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta by Mr Yole of Skippers and the Singing Kettle, Chronicle, September 16.

The historical proclamation that is read out during the regatta opening ceremony states that ‘within the confines of the town, on booths and stalls, shall be displayed and sold all manner of foodstuffs’.

It has therefore been a ­tradition over the numerous decades that food is sold.

When we organise the stalls in the Royal Avenue Gardens, we are careful to ensure that they are largely selling food that is not otherwise available in Dartmouth – Persian and Thai food and curried goat this year, for example.

Both my wife and I met with Mr Yole at his request prior to regatta to talk through both opportunities presented and how other establishments embrace these opportunities. Indeed, after our third meeting I left under the impression that progress had been made and ideas shared.

Although I did note that Mr Yole chose to close his establishments at the end of the afternoons during regatta, when there were still many thousands of visitors in town and other food outlets remained open.

One of the many things we aim to achieve during regatta is to create and offer opportunities for local businesses to ­benefit.

Of course, we remain happy to meet Mr Yole again to chat through the opportunities that will be presented during regatta week in 2017.