A POPULAR sailing regatta is set to return to Manningtree for the first time in three years.

Stour Sailing Club will be hosting the Manningtree Town Regatta on July 16 and 17.

The event will take place at the sailing club marquee and at the town beach in Quay Street.

It is the first time the event will take place since before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The regatta dates back to 1912 and the sailing club became involved after being founded in 1936.

The regatta will be back this month with its much-loved traditional format, which will include a series of sailing races, rowing and other activities on the river Stour on both days.

There will also be fireworks on the Saturday evening and on Sunday morning there will be mud sports and the children’s beach takeover with games, beach activities and the ever popular tug-of-war.

Colin Garnham, Stour Sailing Club’s commodore, said “This is the first time since 2019 that we have been able to welcome the local community back to fully take part in the Manningtree Town Regatta.

“The mud sports and children’s beach takeover in particular have been much missed and we are working hard to make the two days a really brilliant occasion for everyone.

“We have put in an order for great weather, and in case anyone is worried we never have a shortage of mud.”

The mud sports will include the race across the estuary and back made famous by TV presenter Griff Rhys Jones in his Search for the Mersea Native.

Also returning will be the tug-of-war held across the hard and closely contested by both men’s and women’s teams from local businesses, community groups and sport clubs.

Last time, both the women’s and men’s competitions were won by Rose Builders.

On the water, sail racing will start at 1.15pm on the Saturday with the fireworks at around 10.15pm.

On the Sunday, the mud sports and children’s beach takeover will take place from 9.30am with on the water activities from 2pm.

On both days refreshments will be available from the marquee.