Although the earliest days of WHYW saw the tradition of male-dominated racing, the later inclusion of white sail classes allowed women and the family to come along and be part of the week.
Today WHYW is noted as one of the UK’s leading family-friendly events with several boats boasting three family generations that have taken part.
This popular mix of the serious and the not so serious continues the tradition begun at the very first regatta in 1882 when, in addition to yacht racing, the event included rowing races and ended with a ‘duck hunt’ – a sort of pursuit race.