Trawlers face off in a specialised race during the regatta in Plymouth.

Trawlers including J472 Dawn Waters of Jersey and PH5 Nauru and PH36 Flete Lady of Plymouth join in the Trawler Race as part of the Sutton Harbour Regatta. Trawler races have been popular event held in Plymouth Sound. Plymouth has a long tradition of fisheries and is home to an important fleet and one of the largest fish markets in the UK. Money raised from the race goes to support the Fishermen's Mission, a charity that helps fishermen and their families.

Trawlers fall into categories according to the equipment or fishing gear used and type of fish trawled, demersal or pelagic. Outriggers pull trawls along the side, beam trawlers have gear that trawls the bottom of the sea for flatfish, otter trawlers are used in the pelagic fishing industry for midwater roundfish, a stern trawler fishes from the rear, pair trawlers operate in twos and tow a single trawl and purse seiners adapt to more than one type of trawl. A trawler may operate two or more trawl nets simultaneously. Freezer trawlers and factory trawlers have onboard processing facilities. Modern trawlers were developed in Brixham earning it the name of the Mother of Deep Sea Fisheries.