Founded in 1899, the West Mersea Yacht Club has become one of the prominent racing venues on the East Coast of England. Located some 25 minutes from Colchester on Mersea Island, it provides a pleasant sheltered anchorage with immediate access to the ideal racing area and extensive sailing waters of the River Blackwater, Thames Estuary and North Sea for all types of boat.
Besides its own Club Yacht Racing Programme, Mersea has been the venue for major Youth, National and International events for dinghy, sportsboats and keel boats. We are also a major supporter of the EAORA and RORC, starting off-shore races to various Thames Estuary and North Sea European ports. The extensive local waters in the Blackwater estuary, enable the Race teams to set all types of courses, from Windward/Leewards through Round the Cans or to up to three Trapezoids side by side. The Estuary and the prevailing wind direction align and during the summer months on fine days a constant sea breeze, enables champagne sailing. Launching is at all states of the tide for dinghies.
The local racing includes joint racing with the Dabchicks Sailing Club and well established cup races that are open to visitors as well Mersea Cadet Week and the very popular Mersea Week Regatta for offshore yachts, keelboats, dinghies and classics including traditional working boats and “winklebrigs”. The week includes the unique “Round Mersea Island Race” where dinghies are manoeuvred over the Strood causeway linking the island to mainland England.
Members and Visitors always enjoy a warm welcome in the comfortable Clubhouse or, weather permitting, join their friends for a drink on the on the lawn. A full range of bar and catering facilities is available providing hot meals 363 days of the year at lunch time and 4 evenings. Event specific socials and dining can be arranged in the elegant Long Room, with the upstairs Moliette Bar and Balcony with views across the moorings and creeks.
The Mersea waterside itself and the village provide a full range of services and facilities for the racing and cruising yachtsman. Sheltered visitor moorings are available for competitors, serviced by our two Club launches, enabling a fast transit to your boat or ashore. Event car parking is by arrangement in our City Road car park, boat launching is arranged through one or both of the local boatyards. There are numerous Bed and Breakfast, holiday lets and Caravan sites open year round. In the summer we do advise early booking.
Most of all we want you to have FUN by competing and visiting one of the most extensive sailing waters on the East Coast. We can promise you high quality Race management with our skilled teams. Fantastic social facilities supported by our excellent staff, and a warm welcome.
If you are considering a venue for your event on the East Coast, then contact West Mersea Yacht Club through info@wmyc.org.uk