Burnham Week 2025 - Preview
by Sue Pelling 24 Jul 01:12 NZST
23-30 August 2025
Sandhoppers and Squibs enjoy good, close racing at Burnham Week © Petru Balau Sports Photography / sports.hub47.com
With one month to go to the start of Burnham Week 2025, preparations are well under way for this premier east coast regatta. The buzz around town and news of entries starting to flow in, gives a good indication that this event is gearing up to be a classic edition.
Taking place from 23-30 August, and hosted by Burnham Week Ltd (Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Royal Burnham Yacht Club, and Burnham Sailing Club), this event is one of the premier east coast regattas that always attracts a huge following. As well as offering top class racing for all classes of yachts and dinghies, Burnham Week also continues to uphold its reputation for running some of the best social events on the sailing scene, with parties, dinners and dancing running throughout the week.
Burnham Week traditionally takes place during late summer to include the August Bank Holiday, which makes it a popular family holiday week. The addition of the Burnham Town Council-run Quay Day during the Bank Holiday weekend (Sunday and Monday) makes it particularly special with stalls serving locally produced food, drinks and local arts and crafts, as well live bands and children's activities running throughout the two-day event.
On the water competitors can expect eight days of close racing with prizes on offer for both weekends and mid-week racing, for a wide range of classes including spinnaker and non-spinnaker racing divisions. Other classes include the Dragon, 707, RS Elite, Squib, Sandhopper (bilge keel version of the Squib), and local Royal Burnham and Royal Corinthian one-designs.
The first weekend's racing (the Bank Holiday Weekend) will also include racing for MOCRA multihulls, as well as a full programme of dinghy racing for Ospreys, Phantoms, RS Teras, ILCAs, and mixed handicap classes, or any class that can muster a fleet of seven.
The event's signature race for IRC classes is the Town Cup - a 20nm offshore race - which takes place on Trophy Day on the final Saturday. Entries to this race will include yachts from EAORA (East Anglian Offshore Racing Association), who'll also be competing for the EAORA Houghton Cup (one of the oldest offshore races on the East Coast).
Commenting on what promises to be a bumper event, Edwin Buckley - Principal Race Officer - said: "The energy and enthusiasm from competitors and volunteers is already building. Early entries are on par with last year and we're optimistic we will see even more boats on the line in 2025. We've made a small but significant tweak to the schedule too - the first race each day will now start at 1100.
"Young sailors can also look forward to something new - on Sunday 24 August Burnham hosts the second leg of the exciting Beastie Tour, featuring a youth dinghy regatta for Optimists, RS Teras, Cadets, RS Fevas, RS200s and ILCAs. With a strong turnout expected it's a perfect platform for the next generation of racers."
Finally, although prize-givings will take place throughout the week, the final prize-giving, including the Town Cup, will be presented to the overall winners after the racing at the Royal Burnham Yacht Club on Saturday 30 August. This will be followed by the grand regatta fireworks display to mark the end of Burnham Week 2025.
For more information about the regatta, including how to enter, Notice of Race, and a first timer's guide to Burnham Week, visit www.burnhamweek.com