A version of the famous Sidmouth shirt-throwing contest was also held at several festivals with a maritime theme in the mid-60s. The shirt had to be a genuine sailor's shirt complete with collar and shirt-throwing competitors had to have proven nautical connections. No professional sportsmen were allowed to participate though there was fierce debate in Portsmouth one year as to whether an international yachtsman (Alec Rose I believe) could make a ceremonial throw to launch the contest. The prize for the winner remained the same - a yard of ale.

Great rivalries between towns and cities grew up with naval teams from Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth taking on teams of merchant seamen from Glasgow and Liverpool.

Sadly the Navy eventually decided that Field Gun runs were more likely to improve the fitness of their participants than shirt-throwing contests though to this day the shirt thrown by Gunner LeMarque is still visible in a display case to anyone visiting the HMS Victory exhibition in Portsmouth Dockyard.