Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Sailing

Burnham Week 2020 cancelled - Plans in place for premier east coast regatta next season

by Sue Pelling 14 Jul 2020 12:51 BST 29 August - 5 September 2020
Royal Burnham One-Design action-packed downwind start © Roger Mant

Burnham Week Ltd (BWL), the organisers of Burnham Week, confirms Burnham Week 2020 will not take place this year owing to ongoing Covid-19 virus restrictions writes Sue Pelling.

Plans for this annual, premier east coast regatta (scheduled to take place at the end of August this year) under the auspices of Royal Corinthian YC, Royal Burnham YC, and Burnham SC, are now in full swing for next year (28 August-4 September 2021).

The organisers had hoped the national and global measures in place earlier in the year to help manage the spread of the Covid-19 virus would have eased enough to allow this late season regatta to run as 'normal' as possible. However, with social gathering restrictions that would affect the spirit of the event still currently in place, BWL made a decision to put the event on hold until 2021.

Commenting on the situation Edwin Buckley - PRO - said as well as affecting the usual nature of this event, it is about the Burnham clubs' social responsibility to help curtail the spread of the virus.

"Although we were determined to hold off with the decision as long as possible, we were always concerned about how we could run the event as normal yet as safe as possible. Anyone who has ever attended Burnham Week will know it is all about social interaction. As well as the racing, Burnham Week is renowned for its fun party atmosphere with functions such as cocktail parties, class dinners, dances and prize-givings running at all three Burnham clubs throughout the week.

"It is no great surprise therefore that with guidelines still in place it would be impossible to regulate, particularly in close-quarter crewing situations while racing."

Given the fact that Burnham Week is held late in the season, the decision not to run Burnham Week 2020 was held off for as long as possible. Annie Reid - Chair of BWL- said it was a tough judgment but she is confident it was the right route to take. "Although everything was in place ready to run the event this year, the committee reached the decision based on Government and the Royal Yachting Association's directives.

"We would like to thank everyone for the patience they have shown in waiting while we looked into the possibilities of running the event, and we now need to focus ahead and plan that great regatta Burnham Week 2021."

Please keep visiting the event website www.burnhamweek.com to stay updated on progress for Burnham Week 2021.

Related Articles

Burnham Week 2025 Trophy Day
Slingshot wins the Town Cup while Darren Sewell wins the Dinghy Town Cup Nicholas Plank, Slingshot, wins the 2025 edition of the Town Cup, part of Burnham Week 2025, in perfect sailing conditions. Posted on 31 Aug
Burnham Week 2025 Day 6
Sunshine and strong winds made the fleets muster all their technical skills Sunshine and strong winds made the fleets muster all their technical skills on the 6th day of Burnham Week 2025. Posted on 29 Aug
Burnham Week 2025 Day 5
Charlie Matthews wins the John Torrance Trophy Charlie Matthews, sailing a Blaze, won the 2025 edition of John Torrance Trophy, part of Burnham Week 2025. Posted on 28 Aug
Burnham Week 2025 Day 4
Strong winds and sunshine, with a storm passing through Strong winds and sunshine, with a storm passing through, the 4th day of Burnham Week 2025 saw fresh crews refill the ranks as the premier East Coast regatta goes on. Posted on 27 Aug
Burnham Week 2025 Day 3
Town quay was buzzing with activity, with pirates of all ages prowling the streets In what seems like a repeat of last year's Bank Holiday Monday, the third day of Burnham Week 2025 greeted competitors with champagne sailing conditions, while the town quay was buzzing with activity, with pirates of all ages prowling the streets. Posted on 26 Aug
Burnham Week 2025 Day 2
Sunshine and a fancy dress party going on around the 707 fleet Due to an incident on the water, unrelated to the regatta, AP over 1 has been signalled from the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club racebox, the coordination center for safety matters for Burnham Week, postponing the Pile House line starts by 2 hours. Posted on 25 Aug
Burnham Week 2025 Day 1
Perfect sailing conditions, with more than 120 boats taking part The weather gods smiled upon Burnham-on-Crouch and the 2025 edition of Burnham Week started with perfect sailing conditions, with more than 120 boats taking part in the first day of racing. Posted on 24 Aug
Burnham Week preview
All comers invited to join in the fun at this premier east coast regatta With one month to go to the start of Burnham Week 2025, preparations are well under way for this premier east coast regatta. The buzz around town and news of entries gives a good indication that this event is gearing up to be a classic edition. Posted on 23 Jul
Burnham Week overall
Storms and sunshine, heartbreak and mast breaks, parties till dawn Storms and sunshine, heartbreak and mast breaks, parties till dawn, series decided in the last race, a regatta of many firsts - Burnham Week 2024 ended with a bang. Posted on 17 Sep 2024
Burnham Week 2024 Day 8
Strong winds, high swell and overcast on Trophy Day Strong winds, high swell, overcast and the inaugural edition of the Dinghy Town Cup - the Burnham Week 2024 final day sees David Evans in Hullabaloo win the Town Cup Trophy for the second year in a row. Posted on 2 Sep 2024