While sailors will battle it out for the top spot at the annual Heybridge regatta, children will be able to make the most of the Alice in Wonderland theme for the weekend.

Racing begins at 11am on Saturday and the crews of about 50 boats will be hoping to take the crown home.

Race entry costs £5 and sailors can register using the entry card attached to the event programme, which is available in the Heybridge area.

Competitors have until one hour before the start of the race to register.

Children can have fun, too, as there will be an Alice in Wonderland theme for the weekend and between 11am and 1pm on Friday girls will have the chance to make headbands, while boys will be invited to construct top hats.

Face painters will also be on hand for the little ones.

The much-anticipated children’s scavenger hunt will start at 5pm, but is available only on a first-come-first-served basis.

Barbecue food will also be served.

For the general knowledge masters among the crowd, the marquee will host a quiz night to close the evening, from 8.15pm.

The festivities get under way early on Saturday. From 11am, the barbecue will be lit as the racing starts from 10.40am.

Up to 300 people are expected to turn out to cheer on racers in the nine events, which range from dinghies to modern Burmudian yachts.

From 4.30pm there will be live music from Navacross while the trophies are polished for the prize ceremony at 8pm.

Chairman of the event Kate Franklin said: “We’re hoping for lots of sunshine, lots of wind and, of course, lots of spectators for the racing, which is the main focus.”