PIRATES, popes, French maids and many more colourful characters battled it out in a swashbuckling sponsored row on the River Blackwater at Maldon's quayside on Boxing Day.
About 600 people packed Hythe Quay to watch the three-mile race.
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BLUE BELLES: The rowing team of Chrys McPherson, Jill Doubtfire, Marion Hobden and Brenda Riches at Hythe Quay, Maldon
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ROYAL OCCASION: Frankie Ash, Sophie Clayton, Tom Clayton and Rorie Ash CMAP20111227H-023_C
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TEAM EFFORT: Lyn Dhillon, Veronica Miller, Janet Collins, Di Rogers
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VIKING ROWERS: Louis Rose and Peter Newton
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SWASHBUCKLING: Ollie Mulville
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CMAP20111227H-005_C.jpg Sponsored Rowing Race, Sponsored Rowing Race, Hythe Quay Maldon, Essex CM9
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PIRATE PAIR: Sarah Lucas and Lindon Lloyd in fancy dress
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CMAP20111227H-003_C.jpg Sponsored Rowing Race, Sponsored Rowing Race, Hythe Quay Maldon, Essex CM9
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TRAPPED: Cars stuck at Mersea, which forced the West Mersea lifeboat to leave the rowing event
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Two men became trapped in water, when their car (Black Vauxhall Zafria) became trapped in a storm surge tide at The Strood, Mersea Island nr. Colchester this afternoon. The Environment Agency had already issued a Flood Alert for the Essex Coastline with an additional 72cm (2ft 4 inches) on top of the high tide. Essex Fire Service, Essex Police, RNLI and a fishing boat attended the scene, but the men abandoned the car and walked back to Mersea Island. 27.12.11.(c) Pictures; Stephen Huntley.07973 208461...16 CM3 4RPCMUK20111228A-015_X.jpg
There were canoes, kayaks, dinghies and steam launches. Some were filled with teams of ten while others rowed solo.
"It was a great event that raised around £5,000 in sponsorship for the lifeboats," said organiser John Rogers, of the Maldon Little Ship Club.
Mr Rogers, 68, has competed in the race for 34 years, and this year he won a bottle of wine for his efforts as a solo rower.
"It was a perfect day – 10C, with a light south-westerly wind and overcast without rain," he said.
"We always host the race at full tide, when Maldon looks at its best.
"It's a really good event and I would like to thank the members of the public for supporting it.
"The Maldon Mud Race has been moved permanently to Easter due to health and safety reasons.
"But we have never had to cancel our rowing race – we race in gales, ice, everything.
"And we have been going a lot longer, so we are trying to make it the high-profile event in Maldon over the Christmas period.
"We had more sponsorship and more rowers this year than last – around 100 rowers came along.
"They were all in fancy dress and there were some great costumes.
"A man called Rorie Ash rowed dressed as Prince William and his girlfriend came as Kate Middleton. She looked just like her and did the royal wave, and he looked as good as the prince.
"The Hythe Hookers, who are members of the Maldon Little Ship Club, were dressed as French maids, and they beat the Maldon Maidens by 50 metres to win a prize."
A boat called Emma Hamilton was moored at the club, and when she fired her cannons the competitors sailed from the quay to the prom, where they turned and headed upstream towards Fullbridge and then came back to the club.
The lifeboat from West Mersea was at the event, but they had to leave to rescue a car whose driver had tried to beat the tide at Mersea.
"We had lots of rowing clubs," said Mr Rogers.
"The Brightlingsea crew had their boat out for the first time after it was restored by the Pioneer Sailing Trust. The Basin Oars from Heybridge Basin raised lots of money. Everyone did.
"We have to thank John and Lynne Lodge, who made the event possible by kindly allowing us to use their boat yard.
"I would like to thank all the helpers, and Paul Woolnaugh, who did an excellent commentary."
Jack Nicholson, who helps run the event, added: "I was doing all the bookings and we had more boats, more people and more money than normal – so it was an excellent day."