The hotly-anticipated event forms part of the first day of the festival which runs to May 30.
Months of planning and preparation has gone into the festival which is jam-packed with more than 50 entertaining events, most of them free. Top attractions include the two firework fiestas over the harbour, which signal the first and final days. Palm Radio presenter Marshall Ritchie will lead the opening countdown. Brixham Town Council chairman Cllr Chris Bedford is opening the parade, which gathers at the Old Fish Market, at 11.15am on Saturday. Coordinator Pat Osborn said: “This is our 18th festival. All of them have been hugely successful and we hope this one will be even bigger and better. “We have wonderful fireworks displays planned which will probably be the best the Bay has seen.”
Five separate classes of sailing boat, ranging from the large 100-tonne trawlers such as Vigilance to 16ft classic wooden sailing day boats, will compete in their own races.