In October 2011 three fishing smacks set out from Brightlingsea, bound for Rowhedge. As they sailed up the river, in a light south-westerly wind and under a grey autumn sky, a discerning eye may have detected in them a certain leanness of line – narrow, fine bowed, but powerful in design. What all three had in common was that were built by Peter Harris, of Rowhedge, between 1864 and 1900. They were the Pioneer (CK18) with a crew of Colchester Sea Cadets, the Maria (CK21) and the recently relaunched Ellen (CK222), all sailing upriver to revisit their birthplace. This was the inaugural Harris Rally.
Meanwhile, at Rowhedge, a couple of hundred people had turned out to welcome them. Many were residents, but some had come from far afield, drawn by the common interest of seeing these impressive Rowhedge-built smacks under full sail. Amongst those visitors were Karen Coman and her father, great grandson of Peter Harris, who later unveiled a fine half-model of the Pioneer, made by Barry Crickmore and donated to the Rowhedge Heritage Trust (RHT).
Peter Harris had taken over the boatyard at the south end of Rowhedge High Street in 1864 and Pioneer was one of his first commissions. He went on to build forty smacks, including the Albion (now laid up at Mersea). There are no other known survivors other than the three here named above. The Harris yard also built over fifty sailing yachts. One of those was the famous Firecrest in which Alain Gerbault undertook a solo circumnavigation of the world.
This original event was so much appreciated, both by the smack’s crews (who were plied with free hot soup and homemade cakes) and spectators (who had to buy theirs from the Rowhedge Heritage Hut) that it was promptly decided that the RHT should host a similar event every year. In the words of the invitation “Mr Harris requests the pleasure of the company of smack owners, crew and sundry persons, to a Rally at Rowhedge on the River Colne. A warm welcome will also be extended to all working vessels including barges, bawleys and bumpkins –even foreign craft”.
So, since that first rally, every year on one Sunday in late October or early November (depending on the tides) a crowd gathers along the Rowhedge waterfront, eagerly awaiting the appearance of these beautiful brown-sailed smacks, barges and other vessels as they round the corner from Wivenhoe and come into full view. They gently sail past to round up above the village, down sails, and then make their way to the quayside. When all is safe and secure they send up a cloud of racing flags and pennants to add brilliant colour against the grey autumn sky. There is always uncertainty as to how many craft will make it to the event, as this late in the season the weather can be discouraging. But over the years we have enjoyed visits from all types of vessel listed in Mr Harris’s invitation.