Just messin' about in boats

August 1986

There were high-jinks for the Holehaven Fishermen’s Association and its first annual trawler race at Canvey.  Twenty-one trawlers took part in the 8 ½ mile race from Holehaven Creek to West Leigh middle buoy and back. There were prizes in a variety of categories for all who took part to raise cash for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.  An evening function at The Paddocks, Canvey, also had the coffers bulging, with the island’s carnival court helping to raise £151 with a raffle.

Event organiser was Canvey fisherman Mr Peter Saunders. He said: “It was a lot of hard work, but a lot of fun. It was a great event, with crews dressed in drag for the fancy dress section, and every time a boat passed another there was a lot of water throwing.”

Trophies, champagne and equipment prizes went to the first boats over the finishing line in the under 30ft, 30 to 40ft and over 40ft categories. The fastest time, in just over an hour, was by a 23-footer The Fish Hook, which works out of Holehaven and is owned by a Southend eel fisherman.

Mr Saunders said: “It was such good fun this year, but we aim to make next year’s race bigger and bet­ter.”

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