Rain could not stop play during ‘excellent’ Mersea Week

Rain killed the wind on the Thursday and meant dinghies and cruisers were grounded for the day instead of racing, which consequently scuppered the evening prize giving.

However, the wet spell by no means stopped play entirely, and the following day Fenn Wright Associate Partner and New Homes Manager Maria Montgomery found herself presenting prizes alongside Friday’s sponsors, Mersea Marine.

Despite this slight glitch, the week was described overall as ‘excellent’ by Maria’s fiancé, Fenn Wright negotiator Graham Frost, who was himself awarded the Chairman’s Cup for his huge efforts helping organise the week’s events, obtaining sponsors, and masterminding the rescue boats and crews shepherding up to 88 racing dinghies on the water.  Graham and Maria were controlling the safety boats themselves.

“We had over 200 competitors taking part during the week,” Graham said, “including MFOBs, dinghies and assorted Smacks and yachts.

“The event also incorporated individual class racing for the 50th anniversary of the “Twister” and the 100th anniversary of the “ECOD” (East Coast One Design), two iconic examples of sailing boats, and match racing between two ex-Americas cup 12 metre boats, Crusader and Italia. At 62 feet long and with crews of 18 people, these were a spectacular sight!”