Strong winds have forced the cancellation of the first day’s racing in the Solo dinghy national championships, which runs until Sunday, August 25.

Around 100 sailors from all over the UK and Europe have entered the event, being run by Brightlingsea Sailing Club, which was due to run over four days.

However, winds gusting over 25 knots kept the fleet ashore on Thursday and its hoped that the forecast gales ovenight will moderate sufficiently to allow racing on Friday.

The Solo is a singlehanded dinghy, designed by Jack Holt in 1956, and is one of the most popular classes in the country with a strong fleet in Brightlingsea.