Post by Irish Stu on Jul 21, 2007 10:42:32 GMT -6
This weekend is the annual sailing Regatta in the town of Wivenhoe where I live. For a small town Wivenhoe was once home to not one, but two shipyards that for over 400 years built ships that sailed the world's oceans, and a busy port as well. The shipyards and port have long since closed and been replaced with waterfront homes, but the town's maritime heritage remains and is celebrated every year with the regatta, which features a number of sailboat races and a carnival atmosphere on the quay :
TNMC's very own boat perhaps?
The boats racing in the next two pictures were both built here in Wivenhoe in 1930 and have remained in the town, in the same families, to this day.
The musical accompaniment.
The highlight of the day is always the 'Pub Shovel Race' when teams from the town's pubs race in rowing boats, but use shovels instead of oars. Some of the teams dress up, this year's winners from the Black Buoy pub dressed as pirates and the team from The Flag wore dress shirts and bow ties. All tactics and skulduggery are allowed to be used against the opposing teams, including trying to sink them. People on the quay throw eggs at the boats as they pass.
Simon
TNMC's very own boat perhaps?
The boats racing in the next two pictures were both built here in Wivenhoe in 1930 and have remained in the town, in the same families, to this day.
The musical accompaniment.
The highlight of the day is always the 'Pub Shovel Race' when teams from the town's pubs race in rowing boats, but use shovels instead of oars. Some of the teams dress up, this year's winners from the Black Buoy pub dressed as pirates and the team from The Flag wore dress shirts and bow ties. All tactics and skulduggery are allowed to be used against the opposing teams, including trying to sink them. People on the quay throw eggs at the boats as they pass.
Simon
