A WEEKEND of watersport was held in Harwich for the annual Slalom Windsurfing Championships.

Quiver Windsurfing at the boating lake, in Lower Marine Parade in Dovercourt, hosted two days of water and shore-based activities.

On the boating lake were windsurfing taster sessions and pedalos while out on the waves amateur and professional windsurfers raced along the coastline.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

  • Darren Herbert of Quiver Windsurfing giving a lesson

On Friday night there was entertainment with a blues band and on Saturday bouncy castles were set up by the boating lake for children.

There were also food stalls, face-painting, volleyball, kayaking, tug-of-war.

Darren Herbert, owner of Quiver Windsurfing, said: "We had The Hokum Boys from Brightlingsea and Meg Hughes play on Friday night and I was DJ on Saturday night.

“On Saturday we had a 30ft inflatable obstacle course and the last man standing game from Total Wipeout.

“There were Indian and Chinese food stalls, pizza, paella, crepes and Custom Drinks, which is a campervan that turns into a bar.

“We didn’t have any wind on Saturday so all the heats for the championships were held on Sunday.

“It was rammed.

“We had someone come from Ireland and people from Europe to compete as well as from Felixstowe. “I’m pleased with how it went. It was bigger than last year, we had a lot more entertainment.

“The highlight for me was the Friday night with really good music before all the competing on the Sunday, it was a really good atmosphere.”

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

The British Slalom Association’s Slalom Five event saw windsurfers battle it out in the Master Blaster Fleet, Amatuer Fleet and Pro Fleet races.

The races saw windsurfers launch from the beach, navigate around bouys and race to the finish line.

A selection of Volkswagen vehicles were also on show as part of a camp out for the event.