Lynn Cameron, secretary/treasurer of the Sea Fest Committee, reckoned that attendance was broadly similar to last year's 30,000 figure.
She and her committee are delighted that the event went off without any apparent hitches, and that the major attractions at this year's Sea Fest were all hugely popular.

For example, the Ardglass Vikings stormed the shore and were repulsed by the brave Knights of Monymusk - but failing to learn their lesson and trying again and again! The spectacular burning of a longship at Victoria Park was also well attended and enjoyed by all present, despite the cold.

The Scottish Racing Terriers were a hit with everyone who saw them.

And the event proved to be a busy one for members of the Arbroath Abbey Heritage Campaign, who hope to secure World Heritage status for the Abbey. Hundreds of people pledged their support for the campaign by signing the petition.

We asked Lynn how much it costs to stage Sea Fest, and although the accounts have not yet been drawn up she reckoned the final figure this year would be somewhere between £30,000 and £40,000.

Essential expenditure includes toilets and cabins at around £3,000; £2,000 for placing barriers around the harbour, without which Sea Fest would not be allowed to go ahead; and £2,000 for policing. Other expenses include the cost of bringing special attractions to Arbroath and the very considerable administration and organising costs.
Income comes from entry money, sale of pitches and the continuing generous sponsorship from Brunton Farms.

Lynn asked us to thank a number of volunteers, without whose collective effort Sea Fest could not have gone ahead: including members of Arbroath Rugby Club who were at the gates; Sea and Army Cadets who organised the parking of many hundreds of cars; Bill Teviotdale, who was the first local fish merchant to take a stall for some time; and Paul Smith and the staff of McKay Boatbuilders for giving up their time to build the longship which was burned, and taking it to Victoria Park. She also thanked Rembrand Timber for supplying the wood the boat was made from.

A full report and pictures appears in this week's Arbroath Herald.