A race for traditional sailing craft, organised in association with the Thorpe Bay Yacht Club.
This event, now in its 55th year, will have a changed format, with a start line in Thorpe Bay close to the Yacht Club, with Thames Sailing Barges competing for trophies sailing around a courses that is likely to bring them close inshore, round the end of the pier and in the estuary, whilst the tide is in.
Before and after the race the barges will have the opportunity to anchor of the beach when the tide goes out, in much the same way as they did 100 years ago, when they were important cargo carrying vessels bringing supplies and materials to the developing local area