Burnham Week returns with a 'highly competitive' weekend to open the historic district event

By Charlotte Lillywhite

7th Sep 2021 | Local News

Burnham Week has returned with a "highly competitive" opening weekend, after the regatta was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The annual yacht and dinghy racing event began this year on Saturday 28 August, with racing throughout the weekend.

A spokesperson for Burnham Week said: "A gusty northerly breeze and classic, strong east coast tides made the Bank Holiday Weekend Series challenging, but the 115-strong entry generally enjoyed highly competitive racing throughout the weekend."

The series saw one of the largest entries of the regatta for some years, with a total of 15 participating classes including a range of cruising yachts, local one-designs and dinghies, gigs, stand up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes.

The spokesperson added: "It was also good to see the multihulls enjoying fast and furious racing for the Multihull Offshore Cruising & Racing Association [MOCRA] three-day class national championship."

Burnham Week is one of the oldest regattas of its type, having first taken place in 1893.

As the event has always taken place at the end of August, it historically marked the closure of the racing season.

It is organised by Burnham Week Limited, which is a company owned by Burnham's three clubs – Royal Burnham Yacht Club, Royal Corinthian Yacht Club and Burnham Sailing Club.

The town cup, which is one of sailing's most prestigious trophies, will be awarded by the town mayor at the prize giving ceremony on the final evening of the regatta - Saturday 4 September.

One of the most famous winners, in 1972, was the then prime minister Edward Heath and his team aboard the Morning Cloud.

There will also be a fireworks display to mark the end of the event.

For more information, you can visit the event website using the link here.