BRIGHTLINGSEA Coastal Rowing Club are holding a gig festival this weekend.

Teams from all over East Anglia will be racing various gig classes including Harker’s Yard, Sliding Seats and Fixed Seat battling to take the top prizes.

The festival can be viewed from the Brightlingsea Hard, Batemans Tower or the Water Front and races start from 12pm on both days.

BCRC was formed in April 2011 by a small group of enthusiasts and has grown to approximately 50 members.

The club is open to anyone interested in getting afloat and enjoying some exercise with like-minded people.

The club has a full calendar of events ranging from regular sessions in Brightlingsea to exploring the many creeks on the River Colne, and even trips further afield.

Racing is encouraged and the club participated in many events last year ranging from local town regattas to the 21-mile Great River Race, in London, and the Harker’s Yard Gigs’ Winter Series is proving very popular.

The gigs are built by Brightlingsea-based Pioneer Sailing Trust’s apprentices, under the guidance of their experienced shipwrights, using cold-molded construction techniques with three layers of mahogany.

Velocity was the first of this class built in 2011, and paid for using sports grants.

There are now many more gigs on the waters from local clubs such as Rowhedge, Maldon, Wivenhoe, West and East Mersea, and all will be competing in the Brightlingsea Gig Festival.

Visit www.brightlingsearowing.co.uk for more details.