A big, warm, friendly welcome to Mersea Week.

Yes it's me again; my last year as Chairman, so we have made extra effort to make your week even more enjoyable and memorable.

Great news: two new sponsors in the form of Hempel (Blakes) Paint and Adnams - but sorry no free beer!

A big thank you to our day sponsors, which are all local companies and organisations.

This year is the Dabchicks Centenary year and they are making great efforts on the social front, so please get along and support them as much as you can. The Social Programme is in this handbook.

Biggest news for me, is that we have found a Chairman for 2012 in the form of Greg Dunn who has joined our Committee and will take over after this year's Regatta. A Tollesbury boy, but be nice to him anyway. Thanks Greg.

The racing will be organised largely as last year, which seemed to gain general approval. On the afternoon of the Dabchicks Centenary Regatta, there will be a grand afternoon of entertainment and food at the Dabchicks Club - please support them and have some fun. For the rest of the week, there'll be music and the Mersea Games in the afternoons on the Yacht Club lawn.

Finally, thank you and your friends and family for making the Regatta such a success during my three years as Chairman, and a huge thank you to all those who have served on the committee.

Good sailing

Richard Hayden
Chairman, Mersea Week