This year's Blackwater Sailing Barge Match and Smack Race will kick off at Osea Island Pier this Saturday (August 6) at 8.15 am, before arriving at Maldon's Hythe Quay from 4.30pm.

Spectators can watch the race from various points along the River Blackwater, such as at the Marconi Sailing Club in Steeple, or on the beach at Bradwell-on-sea.

Around 10 barges and at least eight 'smacks' are expected to take part. 'Smacks' are former working sailing fishing vessels, which were used to collect oysters.

Cally Stubbs, a member of the Blackwater Sailing Barge Match Association committee, told Nub News: "The barges with engines will come to Hythe Quay on Friday night - those without engines will anchor off at Heybridge Basin or Osea Island.

"We'll be leaving the Quay from about 5.30am on Saturday. The barges will then make their way out and gather at Osea Island."

The first start for the barges is off Osea Pier at 8.15am, followed by one at 8.30am and then at 8.45am. The smacks will start at 9am.

Prizes will be awarded to the winners on Hythe Quay at 7.30pm. Cally says a raffle will also be held in the evening, with lots of 'boozy' prizes on offer.

Blue Mermaid took part in the Pin Mill Barge Match in Shotley last month. (Photo: Peninsula Nub News)

Find out which barges or smacks will be competing in each class below.

Bowsprit: Otherwise known as 'fast class', the name derives from the 'sprit', a spar which extends forward from the vessel's prow. The forestays are fastened to the sprit, making the barge quicker and more efficient as more sails can be set. The quicker a barge travelled, the better the price of its goods.

In the days when the barges were large operated by a man and a boy (possibly along with a dog), the efficient rigs made it easier to work.

Here are the engineless barges competing in the Bowsprit class:

• Blue Mermaid – a local barge, recently rebuilt from the lines of an old barge. This is a training barge, operated by Sea-Change Sailing Trust. She features the logo of the Maldon Little Ship Club on her mainsail.
• Edme – a privately-owned barge
• Niagara – a white barge which is also privately-owned
• Marjorie – unlike her competitors, this barge has an engine but is still in the Bowspirit class
• Mirosa – it is hoped this engineless barge, which was built in Maldon, will take part

Here are the barges competing in the Fast Staysail class, otherwise known as 'Senior Staysail':

• Repertor - This red and black barge is named after the Latin word for 'inventor'. Cally Stubbs will be racing on this barge
• Wyvenhoe – She is currently being refitted under new ownership at Downs Road Boatyard, Maldon, but it is hoped she will be ready by this Saturday
• Reminder – Operated by Topsail Charters, this white barge has black leeboards, helping to differentiate her from Niagara

Finally, here are the barges competing in the Slow Staysail Class, also known as the 'Coasting Class':

• Centaur – Operated by the Thames Sailing Barge Trust
• Cambria – This Maylandsea-based barge was rebuilt 15 years ago and is operated by the Cambria Trust

While they are yet to be confirmed, find out which smacks are expected to be taking part here:

• Polly
• Lizzie Annie
• Peace
• Gracie
• ADC
• Alberta
• Maria
• Sunbeam

Cally says there may be more barges and smacks competing, although organisers will not be sure until this Saturday.

She said: "Depending on the course and what the wind is like very much determine how long we're out there and what time we get back up to Osea. We have to wait at Osea, because we need the tide to be coming in for us to get up to the quay.

"Everyone will anchor off at Osea between 1pm and 2pm, but it may be earlier or later depending on the winds and how far they send us out.

"We would normally go out towards Brightlingsea, and possibly past Bradwell and slightly further out before turning back up river and back to Osea.

"The course will be set by Officer of the Day, Kevin Finch, a shipwright based at Fullbridge in Maldon."

The Blackwater Sailing Barge Match has been running for 60 years and is organised on a voluntary basis by the committee. It is purely funded through membership, which costs £10 per year.

For more information, or to join the Blackwater Sailing Barge Match Association, email Cally Stubbs.

Also on Saturday, the Maldon Carnival will return for the first time in three years. Read more about it here.