This year`s Mersea Week hoists its burgee and ensign on Sunday, 16th. August, 2009 with the starting gun of the first race of the Dabchick`s Sailing Club Regatta and completes its six day journey with the presentation of the prizes for the week, on the lawn of the West Mersea Yacht Club, following the last race of the West Mersea Yacht Club Regatta on Friday, 21st August! There are fantastic prizes and silverware trophies to be won in every class of craft, on every day of races, all of which are open to ALL!

Mersea Week was founded over thirty years ago, as a way of coordinating a week of sailing races, water sports and shoreside activities organized and funded by a committee of members from the West Mersea Yacht Club and Dabchicks Sailing Club. During the 1980s, the week attracted generous sponsors, initially Allied Hambro, and then from l986 until 1992, the prestigious furniture store, Hatfields of Colchester. This year we have local sponsors ... West Mersea Marine, Marfleet Lettings, Home Choice Carpets, Newsround and Peter Clarkes Boatyard.

The week actually comprises a number of separate events; starting with the Dabchicks Sailing Club Regatta on Sunday, 16th August, the prestigious West Mersea Yacht Club`s “Round Mersea Island Race” on Wednesday, 19th August and finally the West Mersea Yacht Club Regatta, already mentioned above, on Friday, 21st August.

The culmination of the week is the traditional and prestigious (and totally independently organized) West Mersea Town Regatta now in its 150th year, on Saturday, 22nd August. This, following yacht and dinghy races for all types and the historic water sports, itself culminates in the usual magnificent fireworks display as darkness descends on the harbour. A stately barge is used as the Committee Boat for the water sports, and from it’s decks the competitors attempt to walk the greasy pole!

Mersea Week, prides itself on being a week of competitive sailing races, water sports and fun events on shore, including great social events for all competitors and crews, at both the West Mersea Yacht Club and Dabchicks Sailing Club. Combined with the WMYC Round The Island Race, every day presents a great spectacle for participants and visitors alike! Craft of every type size and age enter the races, from modern, shiny yachts and dinghies to those of a bygone age with the classic yachts, fishing smacks and winkle brigs. As they gather for the start and finish in the vicinity of the Nass Beacon, the spectacle is breathtaking!

Gather on the Strood at high water on Wednesday, the 19th August and watch the antics of the crews and “helpers” as they carry the competing craft, across the Strood, from either the Pyefleet Creek side or Strood Channel! Take your cameras....You will obtain some great and humorous photographs!

WHETHER YOU ARE A COMPETITOR OR A VISITOR, IF YOU LOVE BOATS AND THE SEA, MERSEA WEEK 2009 IS A GREAT TIME TO VISIT OUR UNIQUE ISLAND --- WE HOPE TO SEE YOU!

Derek Wyatt.