2024 was the fiftieth year of Mersea Week, an event which began as quite a small regatta, but has gradually got bigger to now become one of the largest annual regattas on the East Coast.
This year, the organising committee under the new chairmanship of Fran French made special efforts to commemorate such a significant occasion. The first day saw mainly light airs, with big wind shifts making for tricky conditions, followed by good stiff breezes for two days. Following Wednesday's lay day, unseasonal gales causing Thursday's racing to be wiped out for all classes and strong winds then forcing Friday's racing to be delayed, with three classes having to be cancelled. However, the Week overall was judged to have been a great success, both afloat and ashore. With generous sponsors enabling entry fees to be kept very low, free moorings provided to all visiting Smacks and yachts and racing being held in the lovely estuary of the River Blackwater.
The Week very much benefits from the large range of classes racing, with IRC yachts, Smacks, Locally Handicapped Cruisers, Sonata one designs, Classic Yachts and Gaffers, White Sail Cruisers, Mersea Fisherman's Open Boats (MFOBs) and four classes of dinghies all well supported. With a total entry for the Week of 138 boats, this was the biggest number for some years.
Next year's Mersea Week will run from 10th-15th August.
Full results can be found at :- merseaweek.org
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