AHOY there matey! Shaldon’s most prestigous event of the year drew crowds from far and wide for a days fun in the sun.

The 61st Shaldon Water Carnival took  place on Saturday and featured children’s fancy dress, stalls, games, a lifeboat demonstration, magician and, of course, the most covetted of events, the parade of decorated boats on the Teign Estuary.

Split into classes one, two and three: Boats under motor; paddle boards, canoes and kayaks and Seine boats and dinghies respectively, the boat parade saw entrants gather on Shaldon beach at five o’clock before setting sail around a set route around the Teign Estuary.

The overall winner of the parade was a Dad’s Army themed vessle, which was the handiwork of the Ashton family.

With help from friends, the Ashton family’s creation netted them not one but two pieces of silveware: the Michael Morgan-Giles Cup for coming first in the boats under motors class and the Black and White Asset Finance Cup for the overall parade win.

Jaxon White’s ‘Shaldon Pirate’ entry secured him the most precious of treasure, the Ocean Monkeys Cup, awarded to him for coming first in the paddle boards, canoes and kayaks and Seine boats class.

The swashbuckling crew of the Castle Inn cruised to first place in the Seine Boats and Dinghies class and, in so doing, brought home the much sought after Bulphins Cup.

To round out the festivites, revellers enjoyed a barbecue and then a live music performance, courtesy of Juice, a Shaldon-based five piece specialising in covers of rock songs.

The carnival is organised by the Shaldon Water Carnival Committee; the committee is also responsible for the Spring Fete on the Green and the three-legged Boxing Day run, typically undertaken in fancy dress.