The West Mersea waterfront is the heart of the island — a cheerful strip of beach huts, boat yards, and seafood shacks along the Blackwater Estuary. In summer, families dig into crab and chips on the shingle, and the water is full of dinghies and racing yachts. The beach here is not a grand seaside beach but a working waterfront with a holiday atmosphere, and it is all the more likeable for it. The West Mersea Yacht Club is one of the most active sailing clubs in Essex, and regattas bring extra life to the waterfront in summer.