96th Otter Week in Burnham
by Joseph Bowd 18 Sep 03:16 PDT
July 2026
At the end of July this year, the Corinthian Otters hosted their annual Otter Week! This year marked the 96th anniversary of the event, yet it is by no means less popular now than in 1930. Over 80 young sailors aged between 6 and 18 took part in both racing and activities together, and we also saw a record number of non-sailors participating in games both on and off the water. It truly was a pleasure to see so many young people getting involved in what is always an amazing week!
We couldn't have possibly been luckier with the weather, with sunny, hot weather being enjoyed throughout the week. We were also lucky enough to have mostly steady winds, meaning sailors could enjoy themselves on the water no matter their level of experience. Races took place over 5 days, seeing fleets of Oppies, Cadets, Lasers, RS200s and the occasional Topper and Tera.
The long-distance race also made its return, boasting two courses that totalled to more than 21 kilometres! Otters of all ages took this challenge head on, yet it goes without saying it was incredibly draining - so much so that some took naps on the way back home!
Many favourites were brought back in the programme this year, including the water games. This saw the teams competing against each other in a series of challenges, including crabbing, balancing on a topper and an assault course. It was amazing to see children from as young as 7 to young adults of 18 all working together to score points for their teams!
The Otters took to the water on Monday armed with water pistols for the infamous treasure hunt! Buried treasure was hidden around the river, with enemy teams capsizing each other if they ever got too close. Surprisingly, this ended without any major damage to the boats, which often isn't the case.
Tuesday gave the senior Otters (aged 11 and above) the opportunity to showcase their not very impressive raft building skills. Once again, there wasn't a single raft that made it around the course without falling apart, whether from bad craftsmanship or sabotage from enemy teams. Whilst the seniors struggled to float, the juniors spent a much more pleasant afternoon at Leeward, a house in Creeksea. Here, they enjoyed games and then a swim in the pool afterwards.
The highly anticipated fancy-dress competition took place on Wednesday, with the theme being music legends. This gives the Otters an opportunity to show off their creativity on the runway in front of a panel of judges. Besides several questionable renditions of the Spice Girls, there were some very impressive group costumes, with the winners sporting makeup and wigs as Kiss.
Finally, the AGM was hosted on Thursday, where the upcoming Otter Commodore and Flag Officers were elected. Following this, the prize-giving dinner took place, where the achievements of the Otters throughout the week were recognised. This was then followed by a disco, where everyone could let their hair down after what was a very tiring week!
None of this would have been possible without all the help from the volunteers that chipped in throughout the week. This includes the launchers, the beach team, safety boat drivers and Otter Week organisers. Special thanks also to Judy Waples, our President of 43 years, for her continued support and commitment to the Otters.
I'd also like to thank our very generous sponsors; Hyde Sails, Barbuck Communications, Stitch Print and Donna Kennedy HR. A huge thanks also to The Indy Bakery, who provided us with some delicious tallying off treats!