Streets Whittles go round again as sole sponsor of annual island race.

The Round Mersea Island Race 2024 took place this year on 21st September to coincide with perfect tides for this round the island race covering over 14 nautical miles. High Water was at 15:09 and start times for the race were at 12:00 to 15:00 at 5-minute intervals.

Over 60 competitors, from the very serious to those just looking for a day of fun, circumnavigated the island in their bid for the coconut trophy. Race tactics involved the hugely strategic decision as to which direction, clockwise or anti-clockwise, or to be more nautically correct, choosing to be a starboard or port rounding of the island. However, perhaps most important, was making sure you had plenty of friends and family ready to help you cross the Strood. With the road flooded, participants had to carry their craft or if timed correctly sail down the Strood to the other side of the causeway to begin once again the circumnavigation by water.

The day ended at the Yacht Club and the prizes presided over by WMYC Vice Commodore Bryan Gasson but presented by Dan Insley partner at Streets Whittles Chartered Accountants, sponsors of the event for the second year running. The highlight was of course announcing the winners of the Coconut Trophy which went to 78-year-old Brian Lamb and his crew Paul Berry who narrowly beat last year’s winners, Tim Wood and Connor Redfern into second place.