WHAT’S ON
Blackwater Smack & Barge Match
The Blackwater Smack & Barge Match is one of the highlights of the sailing season for barge owners and crew, and approximately 10 majestic Thames Sailing Barges and around the same number of smaller fishing Smacks are expected to join this year's race. The boats leave Maldon in the morning to head to the start of the race at Osea Island Pier , then they sail out towards Bradwell-on-Sea, so can be seen all along the coast, with great views expected from Promenade Park, Heybridge Basin, St Lawrence Bay and Bradwell Marina at various points during the day. They return to Osea and then to Maldon in the afternoon, but the exact times and route of the race will be determined on the day.
There are several different classes in the race:
Bowsprit - these are the fastest barges , and expected participants include Blue Mermaid, Mirosa and Edme
Senior Staysail - includes Reminder, operated by Topsail Charters and Wyvenhoe
Coasting Class - includes Centaur from the Thames Sailing Barge Trust
It's also possible to go out on a barge, and to stay overnight in some cases, to watch the event, see Blackwater Barge Race - Topsail Charters (top-sail.co.uk)
The RIver Race
The first race of the 2026 Oyster Challenge Race Series which invites all to enjoy this amazing Blackwater Estuary in a number of classes. More details from Mark Farthing mfpropertyservices@gmail.com
Rowhedge Regatta
2026 Rowhedge Village Regatta
There is so much happening alongside the sailing including a dog show ! So lots to get involved with for all the family.
Saturday 20th June - 12 midday til 7pm
Fun for All The Family!!
For more details https://www.facebook.com/RowhedgeRegatta/?locale=en_GB
Wivenhoe Town Regatta
The 2026 Wivenhoe Town Regatta, is on Saturday 4th July, 2026.
An unmissable day of thrilling races, family entertainment, and a celebration of Wivenhoe’s vibrant community. Don’t miss out on this exciting event on the beautiful quayside!
The day kicks-off at 11am, where you can browse the many stalls along the quay.
https://wivenhoeregatta.co.uk/
Check out the amazing website for all the details for this annual event.
Heybridge Regatta
VERY SAD NEWS
The Heybridge Basin Regatta committee have postponed the regatta for this year, which was provisionally to be held on Saturday 18th July 2026.
The dedicated committee have been running a successful regatta for the last 4 years, however, due to changes of personal circumstances and life events the committee numbers had reduced, and required some extra volunteers to assist in the smooth running of the regatta including the set up and take down around the day.
The committee made a request in December for support and for volunteers to attend a meeting on 21st January 2026 to which some extra volunteers did attend, but not the number that it was felt was required to be able to run the Regatta this year.
The committee will hold an AGM in November to decide whether to hold a Regatta for 2027.
Any volunteers for the Regatta 2027 please get in touch at hbregatta@hotmail.com or attend the meeting which will be advertised closer to the date.
Swale Smack & Barge Match
The 2026 Swale Smack and Sailing Barge Match is scheduled for Saturday 25th July 2026, starting near the Sand End buoy and celebrating traditional East Coast sailing vessels. Organised by the Kentish Sail Association, the event typically features historic Thames barges, smacks, and bawleys racing in the East Swale.
Key Details for 2026:
Date: Saturday, 25th July 2026.
Location: Starts at Sand End Buoy/Harty Ferry, Swale, Kent.
Events: A,med with a competitive match of traditional boats, often followed by weekend activities in Hollowshore.
Alternative Option: A 3-night sailing barge trip on the Pudge for the match runs from 23rd–26th July 2026, the Barge Trust. [
This event is part of the Kentish Sail Association's annual matches, designed to showcase traditional working boats, with festivities often taking place at Testor's Boatyard and the Shipwright's Arms.
Cobmarsh Race
The Cobmarsh Marathon will be on the afternoon of 1st August 2026
Dinghy and MFOB Regatta races are also on 1st August starting at 10.00am.
Rowing events start at about 1pm
The Cobmarsh Marathon is a pair-oared Rowing Race with several classes
for different types of boats not exceeding 14ft
following a course of 1.2 miles around Cobmarsh Island.
There will also be a rowing gig race.
The start is by Ted Woolf’s Shed on Coast Road, and is open for anyone to enter on the day.
The main race is around Cobmarsh Island followed by various other ‘light hearted’ races suitable for any type of rowing boat.
There are usually a large number of spectators for this event who watch from the grass bank.
Mersea Week
A week of racing for a variety of boats for lots of trophies across the days along with parties, live music and good company for both locals and visitors ! https://merseaweek.org/social-events/
Booking is now open at https://merseaweek.org/
Mersea Town Regatta
West Mersea Town Regatta takes place on Mersea Island in Essex, and has been running since 1838
Although it is usually held near to Mersea Week, it is independent and entirely self-financed
VERY MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE MADE DONATIONS FOR THE FIREWORKS they could not happen without you
The Town Regatta is run by a hard working voluntary committee who are always keen to welcome new members
If you would like to help run this long established local event, please contact any committee member or email: wmtownregatta@gmail.com
Colne Smack & Barge Match
The 2026 Colne Match (Colne Barge & Smack Race) is scheduled for Saturday, 5th September 2026, starting from Batemans Tower in Brightlingsea. This annual event, a major race for traditional sailing barges and smacks on the Essex coast, features competitive racing with a prizegiving held in the evening.
Key Details for the 2026 Event:
Date: Saturday, 5th September 2026.
Location: Starts/finishes at Batemans Tower, Brightlingsea.
Race Route: Typically travels to Colne Point, out to the Spitways, and rounds back up the Colne to finish off Mersea Stone.
Vessels: Features traditional Smacks, Barges, and Mersea Fishing Open Boats (MFOBs).
Spectating: Excellent views are available from the shore near Batemans Tower, with refreshments usually available at the nearby cafe.
Mersea Dredging Match
To celebrate the opening of the Native Oyster Season at West Mersea, a fleet of Smacks, Bawleys & Bumkins will Dredge under sail
SUNDAY 6th SEPTEMBER 2026
For the EHWB fleet this is such an important event to be involved with as it gives owners and crews a chance to try first hand what their boats were built to do.
For more details on how to get involved contact William Baker at merseadredgingmatch@gmail.com
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/bakergreen/?locale=en_GB
Maldon Town Regatta
Whenever you find 2 sailing boats of similar type you will normally find a race of some kind, local regattas have been going for hundreds of years, and Maldon Town Regatta is no exceotion.
When the promenade opened in 1895 a regatta was held to celebrate the event, and again in 1905 when the swimming lake was opened.
Although you won’t see Thames barges racing in today’s regatta, the 1936 the regatta included sailing barges competing for silvercups
In 1960 an all female crew won the Maldon Smack Race on Howard Built Polly MN12 built at the bottom of North Street in 1889 you will see her and some of her sisters still competing today.
For more details https://maldonregatta.org.uk/
The Oyster Challenge
The Second race in the The Oyster Challenge Series of River Races.
For more details contact Mark Farthing mfpropertyservices@gmail.com
The Turkey Race
The third and final race in the Oyster Challenge Race series. This time you are racing for an actual turkey !
For more details called contact Mark Farthing mfpropertyservices@gmail.com
Coast Road Heritage & Arts Trail Weekend
The Coast Road Heritage & Arts Trail is a celebration of the maritime history of the Coast Road told by weaving history with art along its path from the Mersea Museum to The Old City. We are exploring the fishing and oyster heritage with the help of the existing working boats connected to Mersea.
Together we are using many different forms of art including photography, drawing, painting, sketching, pottery, glass , metal work and even basketmaking. We are also sharing the art of hand written signwriting and ropework.
Playing along the length of the Coast Road will be a variety of buskers entertaining you with their unplugged music.
Explore the For The Love of The Fisherman story at St Peter’s and St Paul ‘s Church as we share the way the church has played an important part in the lives of the fishing community.
As The Mersea Museum celebrate their 50th Anniversary we are pleased to be hosting local artists in there over the weekend. They have The Summer Exhibition open to tell you the story of their beginnings along with many other local stories.
With over 20 Island Artists opening their Studio Doors to you over the weekend you really are in for a treat. Maps available at the Museum for all the studio details.
Coast Road Heritage & Arts Trail Planning Event
Join us in the Mersea Museum as we make progress with the plans for the Coast Road Heritage & Arts Trail being held over the May Bank Holiday 23/24/25 May 2026 to celebrate the heritage of the maritime community in many creative forms
Mersea Island Museum Trust Drop in Session
The Resource Centre is open on alternate Saturday mornings throughout the Winter.
Call in to talk about local history, view photographs and articles on the computers, have a coffee, use the shop. Free admission.
Coast Road Heritage & Arts Trail Planning Event
Join us at The Mersea Museum as we make progress with the plans for the Coast Road Heritage & Arts Trail being held over the May Bank Holiday 23/24/25 May 2026 to celebrate the heritage of the maritime community in many creative forms , weaving history with art together we are joining with the Museum and The Art Community of Mersea to bring to life the lives of the fishing and oyster industries along with the trades associated with them.
Kettle is always on and a lovely selection of biscuits are on tap to help with the creative process !
Mersea Island Museum Trust Drop in Session
The Resource Centre is open on alternate Saturday mornings throughout the Winter.
Call in to talk about local history, view photographs and articles on the computers, have a coffee, use the shop. Free admission.
Coast Road Heritage & Arts Trail Planning Event
Join us as we make progress with the plans for the Coast Road Heritage & Arts Trail being held over the May Bank Holiday 23/24/25 May 2026 to celebrate the heritage of the maritime community in many creative forms
Mersea Island Museum Trust Drop in Session
The Resource Centre is open on alternate Saturday mornings throughout the Winter.
Call in to talk about local history, view photographs and articles on the computers, have a coffee, use the shop. Free admission.
Coast Road Heritage & Arts Trail Planning event
Join us at The Mersea Museum where we are gaining momentum with the plans for the exciting Coast Road Heritage & Arts Trail which is being held over the bank holiday weekend 23/24/25 May 2026.
The kettle is always on and there is a lovely choice of biscuits to help with the creative proccess !
Mersea Island Museum Trust Drop in Session
The Resource Centre is open on alternate Saturday mornings throughout the Winter.
Call in to talk about local history, view photographs and articles on the computers, have a coffee, use the shop. Free admission.
EHWB Mersea Hub
Tuesday 9th December 10:30am - 12:30pm
By this stage it is hoped that we have a clear path of how we can share our findings with a wider audience and how we can put this together. We will be looking for many talents to make this a reality so please pop in if you have a flair for writing , photography, event planning and/or just being amazing ! We have an idea for an exciting community immersed project which is very important is led by the Hub, do drop in to help make it happen.
We really hope you can join us in continuing to uncover the stories connected to the vessels and of course there is tea, homemade biscuits and lots of tales to share. We can’t wait to get going again with this amazing chatty hub and we really hope you can pop in and join in for any one or even all of the sessions.
Everyone is very welcome to join us in our mulling !
We hope to continue into 2026….
EHWB Mersea Hub
Tuesday 25th November 2025 10:30am - 12:30pm
Continuing to explore the boats built to work from Mersea we will be exploring the markets that the catches were sold to and the effects on the industry by weather, disease and market forces. In particular we would like to explore the Companies connected such as Bentley’s and The Tollesbury & Mersea Native Oyster Company.
We will also look to the connection each of these have with familiar ladmarks along the Coast Road.
Smacks Class II- Our Boys, Smacks Class III - Boadicea, Mayflower, Dorothy, Gracie, Peace, Puritan, Pricilla, Hyacinth, Electron, G&A, Ida, Phathom, Primrose, Skylark and Cybil.
News from the Boatshed - Peace, Ida and Mayflower.
EHWB Mersea Hub
Tuesday 11th November 2025 10:30am - 12:30pm
The Boats that were built to work from Mersea have of course a long connection to the fishing companies that were based on the Island either built specifically for the owner such as the Banks family or brought later in their working lives for the likes of Leslie French.
Oyster Bumkins - Gipsy & Boy George, Sprat Skiffs - Mystery, Lilian, Marie & Alice,
Tow Haul - Bumble, Motor Skiff - Pyefleet. Winklebrigs -Jack , Winnie, Wheezy Anna and Genesta. Tenders - Ally Lump
It will be interesting to explore the companies further and where along Coast Road they had a link to and discover what is still in place to explore.
- In respect to Armistice Day we will be remembering those that lost their lives, in particular we will spend time learning more of George Stoker who gave his name to the sailing oyster bumpkin Boy George
News from the Boatshed - Boy George, Mystery and Wheezy Anna
EHWB Mersea Hub
We are back for a new series of drop in sessions at The Mersea Museum.
By continuing with our quest for a deeper understanding we are keen to host another series of EHWB Hub in West Mersea. With the support of The Mersea Island Museum Trust we would love to invite you along to join us for drop in sessions at the Museum to continue to learn more about your families and their connections to the working vessels of the past.
Starting on the 28th October 2025 at 10:30h to 12:30h we will give an outline to the coming weeks. Last time we discussed the boats built to work actually on the Island to the ones built in the Colne and Tollesbury who were worked from the island. Building on that we would love to hear your connections and see any photos or papers that help to bring the people that were involved with them. By telling their stories once again and sharing their lives it means that the custodians of the vessels can learn more of the rich history connected to them and inspire more to get involved in their care to ensure they continue to exist for many generations to come.
We covered last time the The Boats built on the Island
Oyster Skiffs - Mersea Native, Silver Spray, Spray, Golden Chance, Jinny, Winkle Brigs- Ino, Lizzie, Tenders - Betty Mary and Native.
We will be exploring further the history of Wyatts by finding out about the other boatbuilders that served their time alongside Wyatt and Emery, with more delving into the families and companies connected to these rare Mersea working boats. The sites on which the boats were built along the Coast Road is of particular interest together with the sites of processing the catch and the businesses and trades connected to this.
NEW ! News from the Boatshed - Each session we will give an update on the work being carried out on the Mersea boats. This week it will be Silver Spray, Mersea Native, Jinny and Golden Chance.
The Colne Smack & Barge Match
The Colne Smack Preservation Society’s Colne Smack & Barge Match 2025
Mersea Town Regatta
West Mersea Town Regatta takes place on Mersea Island in Essex, and has been running since 1838
Sailing, Watersports and Fireworks and even an Essex Heritage Workboat taking centre stage. SB Wyvenhoe will again be the Regatta Barge.
More details at https://www.mersearegatta.org.uk/
Round The Buoy for the Boys
Life can be complicated, this race isn’t. One start, one mark.
Mersea Week
A week of racing for a vast array of vessels with lots of smiles both on and off shore !
Cobmarsh
Handicap Dinghies for Mersea Fisherman’s Open Boats*
Fast Division for The Oswald Lewis Challenge Cup
Slow Division for The Gladys and Ed Wyatt Trophy.
The Wyatt Cup for the first ex-working boat not winning another trophy.
The Pinky Hewes Memorial Trophy for first over the start line.
* Note: Strictly for open boats with NO decking and to be sailed under M.F.O.B. Class. Rules and handicapping. Rules available on request from David Cope 07764 559380.
