THERE will be plenty of fun and frolics to be had on the water, as the popular Mersea Week kicks off this weekend.

Hundreds of traditional, classic and modern boats and dinghies from miles around will gather for a week of competitive races, watersports and family activities from Sunday.

Thousands of spectators will cheer the races on and celebrate with winners at parties and barbecues at the end of each day.

Mersea Week chairman Richard Hayden said: “We have watersports, silly rowing races and swimming races.

“People try to walk a greasy pole off a barge to grab a flag, but only two or three people each year manage it – the rest fall into the water to huge cheers from the crowd.

“Over the five days it is one of the biggest regattas on the east coast.

People come from miles around to take part.”

Racing begins on Sunday, with the Dabchicks Regatta, followed by various races on Monday and Tuesday, with bands and games, such as sumo wrestling, tug of war and beer races on the front lawn of the West Mersea Yacht Club, on Tuesday evening.

Wednesday at 10am sees the start of the round the island race, which will feature about 200 boats of all shapes and sizes. Boats start the race at five-minute intervals, race around the island in the direction they choose, and cross the Strood, often by running and carrying their boats across to make a quick time to the finish.

Racing on Thursday is followed by the West Mersea Yacht Club Regatta on Friday, and the prestigious West Mersea Town Regatta on the Saturday.

Between 5,000 and 10,000 people are expected to flock to the island to see “anything that can float” competing in the race.

One vessel worth looking out for is a 19th-century wooden yacht, Kismet, which has been restored by Richard Matthews. Kismet was the pride of regattas up and down the UK, but last sailed in 1948, before being left to rot in a mud berth.

For those who prefer firm ground, there is a host of games, fetes and funfairs around the Yacht Club.

A spectacular fireworks display over the harbour at 9pm on the Saturday will close the 2009 Mersea Week.

Mr Hayden added: “The whole waterfront comes alive, all the shops are open, the clubs are open and there are parties and barbecues each night.”

The week is organised by a committee from the West Mersea Yacht Club and the Dabchicks Sailing Club.

This year’s Mersea Week sponsors include West Mersea Marine, Marfleet Lettings, Home Choice Carpets and Peter Clarke’s Boatyard.

For more information about Mersea Week, call the West Mersea Yacht Club on 01206 382947.