Everyone goes a bit quackers at midday on Thursday 8th August at midday as hundreds of individually numbered bright yellow toy ducks are released into the river Lim at Higher Mill Flats where they hurtle downstream in a mad paddle towards the finish line at Jordan Flats. The bath time companions initially negotiate the relatively calm waters by Windsor Terrace before the fearless racers gather pace after descending the potentially treacherous weir at Woodmead Road bridge. They wind their way around the bend at Lymbrook Cottages, before riding out the bumps and dips along the stretch by Jericho with some final jostling for position with the finish line in sight.
Buy your ducks in advance online via the Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival website, who are running the event. You can also buy ducks from 11.15 at Higher Mill Flats, Windsor Terrace before the start of the race, subject to availability, and from the purple carnival kiosk in the shelters on the seafront during Carnival Week.
Lyme Regis Town Crier Alan Vian will officially start the race by Higher Mill Flats, near Woodmead Bridge, Windsor Terrace at midday.
Supporters can cheer on the ducks from the river bank until the finish further down the river at Jordan Flats.
There will be a host of cash prizes for the first, second and third ducks over the finish line and a bonus prize for the last duck that manages to negotiate the river course.
1st duck across the finish line wins £100
2nd £50
3rd £20
Last duck home £10
Winners not in attendance will be notified.
The organisers take their environmental responsibilities seriously as volunteers ensure all plastic ducks are captured in a giant net just after the finish line and stored until they race again.
All proceeds to local good causes.
Event location