The east coast’s largest regatta has been hailed a success after a strong turn out proved the “classic yacht scene is alive and well” in Suffolk and Essex.

Yachts from across the region attended the 18th Classic Regatta to compete across two days in Dovercourt Bay, Harwich Harbour and the Orwell and Stour river estuaries.

Hosted by Suffolk Yacht Harbour, in Levington near Ipswich, the event featured a variety of vessels. Day one was won by Andrew Gilmour in Stella Timoa with Mark Wincer’s International One Design Whisper and Stephen Jones’ Masthead Sloop Phialle taking first in the fast and slow classes respectively. Race two saw Whisper clinch the overall win.

Suffolk Yacht Harbour’s Jonathan Dyke said: “Despite a late spring delaying many people’s maintenance and launch plans, we have enjoyed a strong turnout of 35 boats this year, proving that the classic yacht scene is alive and well on the east coast.”