Mersea Week 2008

The River Blackwater in Essex was privileged to be the sailing waters for Mersea Week. We had over 100 craft of various rigs, ages and sizes participating and out on the water every day that the wind permitted during a full week of racing. The Smacks and Classic Yachts, plus the Mersea Fishermen’s Open Boats provided a traditional spectacle and were complimented with the more modern racing yachts and dinghies.

Dabchicks Sailing Club Regatta

Challenging conditions greeted the competitors in the Dabchicks Sailing Club Regatta marking the start of Mersea Week 2008. The bright sun gave excellent sailing day but the fresh breeze made for difficult sailing and caused some breakages, particularly amongst the older and more “Classic” wooden yachts.

Mersea Week Points Monday

For the first Points race of Mersea Week the competitors still had the sun but the wind had freshened and with gusts of 30 knots plus sadly the decision was taken to cancel the dinghy and MFOB racing. Cruiser competitors sailed a shorter course which the Race Officer planned to give the boats a good race but to get them back into harbour before the forecast wind increase to gale force. Again the racing was a test of boat handling skills in the rough weather and there were more breakages on the highly stressed racing boats with at least one breaking her mast, putting her out of contention for the rest of the week unless her skipper is able to source a replacement.

Unfortunately the wind increased overnight and with a gale warning in force the decision was taken to abandon all racing for Tuesday.

West Mersea Yacht Club Regatta

Yet again the weather was the greatest challenge for the competitors, glorious sunshine, but very light and fluky winds which caused quite a number of boats to retire. A testing time for both the Cruiser and Dinghy OODs having to shorten the course for some of the classes in order to achieve a set of results. It had been planned to run two dinghy races, but the light conditions prevented this.

The river was alive with boats which at one point looked as though they had been frozen in a time warp, nothing was moving as the boats, flying spinnakers were running down river against the tide, and barely progressing.

Overall Results:

Cruisers

Dinghies and Mersea Fisherman’s Open Boats

Mersea Week could not take place in its present format without our Sponsors. We appreciate their contribution and this year we would like to thank Marfleet Lettings, Peter Clarke’s Boatyard, Home Choice Carpets and West Mersea Marine. Thanks are also due to the two Committee boats, owned by Brian Bolton and Pete Bessey, the two OOD’s Brian Bolton and Peter Fitt for providing good racing in a difficult week. Thanks to all the support boat owners and crews, ably managed by Geoff Pearce. Without the entire in put from these people we could not achieve what has been attained this week. Finally, and by no means least, thank you to the bar and catering staff at WMYC, the bar staff at DSC, plus Tree Fitt and her team for keeping us all fed and watered.

A full detailed set of Results for the Week can be seen on our website merseaweek.org