Final preparations are underway for tonight’s (Friday August 1st) illuminated procession of boats, which will mark the start of the town’s annual sailing regatta.
This year, tide and daylight timings will test the Sailing Club’s yacht and boat skippers to the limit.
Full tide is just before 8pm, and the sun will not set before 9pm, so the yachts will be illuminated from 9.30pm and will have to negotiate the shallow entrance to the River Brue to regain access to the moorings and pontoons with the water level at less than two metres.
The Sailing Club Commodore’s yacht, ‘Matilda of Bristol’, will be stationed some distance out from the town jetty and the illuminated yachts will pass to the port and starboard of the yacht and dip their lights as they pass.
“The test of skill will come when the yachts with deep drafts make their way back to their moorings,” John Clist, Commodore, told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
He added: “Burnham Sailing Club’s Sailing Master, Ken Sowdon, has worked extremely hard in organising the yachts and ensuring that they have lit navigation back into the River Brue. He has also ensured that there is maximum time on the water following sunset and sufficient water under their keels.”
“I will be the last boat in,” added John, who said that an anchor, sufficient sleeping bags and food and drink will all be onboard just in case he is unable to get back. “My yacht has a two metre draft so it will be ‘touch and go’ getting her back to her berth.”
Even with the testing timings, it is hoped that the Illuminated craft will provide another breathtaking display.
A busy line-up of activities will follow over the ten days of Burnham’s 2008 Regatta. This Saturday (August 2nd) will see several yacht races, along with the annual Seafarer’s Lunch at Burnham Sailing Club from 12-2pm. There will also be instructed walks along the River Brue Arts Trail by local artists.
On Sunday (August 3rd), the Environment Agency will hold a fishing day and exhibition at Apex Lakes from 9.30am-4.30pm.
On the same day, the Sailing Club will hold ‘Captain Blackbeard’s Barbecue’ from 1pm, which will include a best dressed pirate competition!
A fancy dress tender race (pictured right) will be held in the evening and the Brue Arts Trail will be open all day.
Throughout the week of August 4th-8th, a community painting session will take place at Burnham Sailing Club when a giant mural will be created by passers-by.
Burnham’s annual ESCAPE Day (pictured below) will also be part of this year’s regatta and will be held on Saturday August 9th.
Organised by BARB, the day will be held on the town’s seafront and include demonstrations and activities by emergency services from across Somerset. It will start at 10am and finish at 5pm.
The Sailing Club will also hold a ‘try a sail day’ from 11.30am on August 9th, which will be followed in the evening by a pig roast at the Sailing Club.
The busy regatta will come to a close on Sunday August 10th with further sailing races, culminating with a prize-giving ceremony at 4pm at the Sailing Club.
Mr Clist told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This year’s event looks sure to be another fun-packed one.”
Full details of the event’s schedule – including a review of last year’s event – are available on the regatta’s official website here.
RELATED LINKS:
Official Burnham-On-Sea Regatta Website
