Blessing of the Waters at Brightlingsea is normally sunny, but on 29th May 2022 it rained, and then it rained some more! Despite that the open-air service at the Hard was very well attended, the Cinque Port Deputy’s  Procession was enriched with a number of Cinque Port Mayors & Mayoresses attending from the south coast alongside Essex coastal Mayors & Mayoresses. We were honoured that the Speaker of the Cinque Ports, Mayor of the Cinque Port of Hythe, Cllr Jim Martin gave a reading in the service. We were also pleased to have the Area Dean of St Osyth, Rev Canon Lawrence Bond Bless the Waters with the Vicar of Brightlingsea, Chaplain to the Cinque Port Liberty Rev Caroline Beckett. The Town Crier made his declaration, then the Deputy of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea, Mark Wilby gave his welcome, followed by the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports’  Droit-gatherer for Brightlingsea, Roger Tabor with a message from the Lord Warden. The Lord Warden has re-established the medieval post of  his Droit-gatherer at Brightlingsea after a lapse of 170 years.

The boats on the Hard were then Blessed with water by the clergy, in addition to the considerable amount falling from the skies! Once our guests were all on their boats, then the “Din” erupted of horns, bells, whistles to help ‘Beat our Bounds’ as the boats set off from the Town Jetty.

Our main flotilla consisted of the only remaining Skillinger Smack “Pioneer”, Smack’s “Priscilla”, My Alice”, & “Maria”, with Dutch Barge “Sietske”, former Trinity House Launch “Trinity”, working boats “Maverick” & “LuLubell”.  The Motley Crew sang for the flotilla aboard the Dutch Barge. They were followed by Gigs, Jim Lawrence in his sailing skiff, numerous yachts & cruisers taking part. Thanks to everyone, especially in the conditions. The flotilla were dressed in colourful pennants & bunting, but this year instead of flying freely, they drooped with the wet. However, despite the conditions, or perhaps because of it, there was more laughter echoing around the boats between the “Dins” than usual, people enjoyed themselves!

At the point where Brightlingsea Creek meets the Colne Estuary, the boats hove to, and the Area Dean placed a cross on the waters and blessed them, then some beer was drunk to the traditional toast of “Gang-ho!”.  After a gap of 2 years with only semi-virtual form due to the covid pandemic, a return to the normal full event was gratefully welcomed despite the weather!