Streets Whittles sponsors Round Mersea Island Race 2023

Streets Whittles is sponsoring this year’s West Mersea Yacht Club’s annual ‘Round the Island’ Race.

Well over a hundred dinghies and small boats of all shapes and sizes are expected to circumnavigate the Island in this West Mersea Yacht Club organised race, which takes place this year on Saturday 2nd September 2023.

Entries are welcome from windsurfer race boards, rowing boats (gigs/skiffs), dinghies and catamarans. Competitors are now able to register for entry online via the Club website; there is fee £25 per vessel. Start times are from 11:30 at 5-minute intervals and entrants must choose which way around the island to sail, Port or Starboard rounding, at the time of registration. Although entry is open until the 29 August, the maximum number of boats safely accommodated, irrespective of type, is 150, and so competitors are advised to enter early. What is perhaps most interesting about this particular “round island” race is the challenge of crossing the Strood. On arriving at the Strood, the causeway which forms part of the main road from Colchester and is covered by water at high tide, competitors’ boats are lifted out of the water, carried over and re-launched by an army of willing volunteers.

Streets Whittles partner Dan Insley explains why he and his partners are happy to support this event:

“We have had an office in West Mersea since 2000. The island community is important to us and how better to demonstrate our commitment than with the sponsorship of this unique event.  It is a wonderful family occasion and an opportunity to celebrate how very privileged we are to live and work in this very beautiful coastal location.”

Streets Whittles also supports the West Mersea Yacht Club community through the on-going sponsorship of a Race Mark. See website news 18 April 2023. We also publish our own branded tide tables, information which is of great importance to this race in calculating when best to cross the Strood. If you would like a copy of these tide tables, please email info@streetsweb.co.uk with details of where to send.