The Thames Sailing Barge Match, the second oldest organised sailing race in the world, will take place on the thames Saturday 19 July).

One of the best places to view the spectaular event is Thameside Nature Discovery Park - EWT at Mucking Wharf Road, Mucking, Stanford-le-Hope, SS17 0RN.

The race will start around 9.30am from Mucking No.3 Buoy, just outside the Nature Discovery Centre and will last about two and a half hours.

The park offers a fantastic view from its visitor centre, which will be open from 8.30am so visitors can enjoy a morning cuppa or some breakfast on the rooftop viewing area or from the panoramic windows in our cafe area.

The barges will head downriver past Southend-on-Sea to North Oaze Buoy before returning to a finishing point at Gravesend, having completed 43 nautical miles, later in the afternoon.