Working trawler races have been sailed off Brixham since the early 1800's. The racing was always fiercely competitive, with the boats being driven extremely hard. In strong winds in 1927, the winning trawler 'Valerian', averaged over 12 knots around the course ! In 1914, King George V presented the Perpetual Challenge Cup also popularly known as the 'King George V Cup' or the 'Kings Cup', to be raced for by Brixham registered sailing trawlers over 40 tons. This was competed for annually from 1919 until 1939.

In 1919, Sunny Isle was the first winner of the King George V Cup. Lord Churston, presided over the earlier events and in his letter to King George V, he sent the good wishes of the fishermen of Brixham and personal reassurance that, 'The gift will ever be held as a link between the Port of Brixham and the Throne'. The original title of the Regatta was the ‘Port of Brixham, Torbay, Royal Regatta’. Following this auspicious approval by Royalty, the local trawlers competed each year until 1939, when war broke out. Valerian (of which there is a model in Brixham Yacht Club), was particularly successful with Vigilance, (winner 1933) and Torbay Lass, (now Kenya Jacaranda), winner in 1936 also successful in this racing event. During the heyday in the 1920s and 30s, the racing was an incredible spectacle, with not only a large fleet of big ketches, but also a fleet of the great classic yachts, including King George's yacht 'Britannia' and several of the famous J-Class yachts.

After the war, racing lapsed and as sailing trawlers became commercially outdated the fleet slowly disappeared. However, through the efforts of local skipper Toni Knights, and with the involvement of the Devon Gaffers and several local restoration projects, (in particular the Vigilance Preservation Society, Trinity Sailing Foundation and the Pilgrim Trust), the Brixham trawler fleet re-emerged in 1997 to race once again for the King George V Cup. The modern event has had racing in five classes, allowing traditional sailing vessels of all types, shapes and sizes to take part. It also now also has a sixth class for yachts of any type of construction, who are over 30 years old. The event is now a highlight of the traditional sailing calendar.

Heritage Regatta 2011 results

King George V Cup - Vigilance

Class 1 Brixham Heritage Cup - Vigilance

Class 2 40 Ton Cup - Chloe May

Class 3 Lugger Trophy - Marie Louise

Class 5 Brixham Heritage Salver - Tocobo

Concours D'Elegance - Stephen Elston Trophy - Iris