Changes have been made to the traditional format of the 107th Burnham Week Regatta, one of the East Coast's premier events.

Organisers are trying to make the event more appealing to competitors, and have appointed public relations specialists in their attempt to attract more entries.

Improvements have also been made to the racing events, and the Royal Thames Yacht Club is incorporating a three-day regatta into the week.

Doug Baldwin, chairman of the joint clubs committee which organises the week, said: "Altering the essential format of a regatta with as much heritage as ours is an important decision.

"We have worked hard to ensure that competitors and sponsors will appreciate the changes we have made.

"We are confident that Burnham Week 99 will be a great success and will prepare the way for an even more exciting 2000 event."

Burnham Week runs from August 28 to September 4. There will be more than 30 classes for racing, and committee boat starts have been included to provide race officers with a flexible approach to course selection and allow courses to be easily shortened should weather conditions demand it.

A non-racing events day will be held on August 31, and the social side of the week, which includes parties, discos and balls organised by individual clubs, will continue.

International yachtsman Josh Hall will speak at one of the dinners about his single-handed exploits in the Around Alone Race.

David Lenz, vice-chairman of the joint clubs committee, said: "As a committee, our responsibility is to run the most professional sailing regatta we can.

"As we prepare for Burnham Week 2000 with a new look to the racing, the social side and the improved media interest, we are all looking forward to an exciting year."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.