The second year of the Covid Pandemic still had government health restrictions in place, slightly eased. Limits were still in place on numbers meeting, so the event could not go ahead in the full usual manner. We did not announce the event to avoid drawing crowds, but we were able to take out one of the historic boats, the Bawley “Blackbird” with the Bishop of Colchester Right Rev Roger Morris & the Cinque Port Deputy Frank Pomroy. This was supported by a couple of ribs rather than the usual flotilla of vessels. On land people “dressed” their houses as if they were boats and these were blessed by Brightlingsea’s vicar Rev Caroline Becket & the Bishop using water pistols rather than the usual way to keep to safe social distancing.

A virtual Zoom event also took place to enable Admiral of the Fleet Lord Boyce, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, along with Cinque Port & Essex coastal mayors to take part, even though they could not be there in person as they would normally