COLOURFUL rows of maritime bunting are waving above the streets of Manningtree ahead of the return of the town's sought-after regatta.
Manningtree's Regatta is making a comeback after last year's spectacle had to be cancelled for the first time in decades due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The highly anticipated event is taking place along the quayside next Saturday and Sunday, with the first sailing race starting at 10.30am.
During the weekend, there will also be relaxing yoga on Manningtree beach, rowing races, fishing competitions.
A firework display will light up the skies above the town on Saturday from 9.45pm following the first day of races.
On Sunday there will be live music near Winyl, in South Street with performances from The Maniacs.
There will also be circus activities near Jewsons, market and food stalls in South Street and performers throughout the day until 4pm.
A statement from the Stour Sailing Club, which organises the event, said: "Although it will be a slightly lower-key event than usual we hope to get as many boats on the water as possible.
"There will be a pursuit race on the Saturday with a first start of 10.30am and fleet racing on the Sunday with the first start at 11.15am.
"Lots of people are feeling a bit nervous and rusty having had a long break from racing, but we hope it will be a fun, relaxed weekend, so please join us and send in your entries."
The town's regatta has been running for more than a century with only a break for the World Wars and the Covid outbreak.
The first chronicled regatta was held on August 17, 1912 but at the time was called a water carnival.
It saw boats cover a course which started at Coke Quay in Mistley, then to Stutton before finishing in front of hundreds of spectators in Manningtree.
At the time swimming races were also a big part of the water carnival and would continue to be at all the carnivals until 1950.
By 1914 the name of the event was changed to Manningtree Regatta but over the coming years its name would vary.
During the intermittent years between then and 1933 there was a lapse in regatta events but the annual spectacular was revived in 1933.
The Stour Sailing Club became involved with organisation of the event during the 1930s and continues to run the event to this day.
To see the programme or enter a competition visit, stoursailingclub.co.uk.
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