THE home crews were in dominant form as Rowhedge Coastal Rowing Club held their annual Regatta Gig race.

The Rowhedge crews arrived to great cheers from the quaysides after retaining their title for the fifth successive year.

Tyrant Rowhedge finished as winners, ahead of second-placed Aquiline.

The long row course from Batemans Tower to Rowhedge was windy coming out of Brightlingsea past the smacks waiting to start their race down the river.

This was ideal for the Harkers Yard Gigs to test their endurance in the five-mile traditional race.

The race consisted of two Rowhedge crews (Tyrant and Aquiline), two Brightlingsea crews (Vanduara and Velocity), the Brightlingsea University Club-based Molliette crew and Defiance, from Wivenhoe Corsairs.

Making up the race was also a crew from Lower Thames in Dauntless, a different class of boat but made very welcome to join in.

Holding the start line was a difficult task due to the wind and the tide.

But everyone got away well and started the sprint to the waiting crowds at the Rowhedge Regatta.

Tyrant had a good break from the start and once everyone had settled soon found the other Rowhedge gig Aquiline coming up behind them.

It pushed them hard all the way, closely followed by third-placed Vanduara while Velocity held off Defiance, followed by Molliette.

After a short break the gigs were in action again for the sprint knockout races.

The two gigs to get through to the head to head were Vanduara (Brightlingsea) against Aquiline (Rowhedge).

Vanduara was victorious ahead of runners-up Aquiline, a great way to finish off the day's racing.

Results, Harkers Yard Gigs: 1st Tyrant Rowhedge 41.25.25, 2nd Aquiline. Rowhedge. 41.25.35, 3rd Vanduara Brightlingsea 42.12.15, 4th Velocity Brightlingsea 42.13.00, 5th Defiance Wiv Corsairs 42.13.40, 6th Moliette Brightlingsea Uni 45.15.15.

Different class of boat: Dauntless Lower Thames 42.13.03

Sprint Knockout: 1 Vanduara Brightlingsea, 2 Aquiline Rowhedge.