There’s a good reason that the riverside town of Burnham-on-Crouch is known as the ‘Cowes of the East Coast.’ The attractive idyll on the banks of the River Crouch in Essex, lined with listed Georgian and Victorian buildings, boat-building yards and sailing clubs is famed for its annual regatta. This year marks the 125th anniversary of Burnham Week, when the yachting centre will be awash with competing craft ranging from dinghies to ocean going racing yachts.

The first regatta took place in 1893 between the London Sailing Club and The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club and historically marked the closure of the racing season at the end of August. It grew in popularity as yacht owners worked their way east often mooring their boats here for the winter. Famous yachtsmen and women who have sailed on the Crouch include Olympic gold medallists Shirley Roberston and Ben Ainslee.

This year's competitors can enter one to eight days of river racing. If you prefer to watch, much of the regatta can be viewed from the riverbank, with some races heading from the Quay along the river and back while some start to the east of Burnham and travel out into the sea.

*burnhamweek.com