An historic sailing barge will be returning to the town where she was built over 100 years ago to play a starring role in the regatta week at Wivenhoe on the River Colne, near Colchester in Essex.

The trip by the spritsail barge Wyvenhoe also marks the culmination of a project to get her back in ship-shape condition and regularly sailing again along the Essex and Suffolk coast after several years of inactivity.

On Friday (July 23) Wyvenhoe will be at Wivenhoe’s West Quay, where she will be the venue for the Mayor’s Charity Fund wine reception between 7pm and 9pm.