Please read and enjoy our article and watch your FREE LONDON MUSIC VIDEO at the end Messing About in Boats - Henley Royal Regatta
Boaters ( straw hats ), striped blazers ( jackets ), white flannels ( trousers ) and Pimms ( dangerous! ). This must be the Henley Royal Regatta!
Don't be fooled by the sound of braying 'hooray-Henrys', the popping of corks, the clinking of glasses and the boisterous behaviour of the 'over-served', this is a serious athletic event. | | Henley Regatta by Tissot - 1877 |
| The Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames , to the west of London .
The Henley Royal Regatta lasts for 5 days (Wednesday to Sunday) over the first weekend in July . The races themselves comprise head-to-head, knock out competitions, raced over a course of 1 mile and 550 yards (2,112 metres).
As well as the ranks of traditional, gaily attired spectators , the Henley Royal Regatta regularly attracts high quality international crews to the racing.
The most prestigious event at the regatta is the Grand Challenge Cup for Men's Eights . This Cup has been awarded to the winning crew since the Henley Royal Regatta was first staged in 1839 .
The event has its own rules and organisation , although it is recognised by both the Amateur Rowing Association and FISA (the International Federation of Rowing Associations).
The Henley Royal Regatta is organised by the Stewards , for the most part former rowers themselves.
Each event in the regatta takes the form of a knockout competition , with each race consisting of two crews racing side by side up the Henley Royal Regatta course.
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|  | | Part of the Regatta course | The course is marked out by two lines of booms placed along the river to form the straight 2,112 metres course.
The regatta course is wide enough to allow two crews to race down with a few metres between them. This sometimes has the effect of inexperienced steersmen or coxswains hitting the booms and wrecking their crew's chances of winning the race.
The Henley Royal Regatta course has traditionally run from the River Thames's Temple Island upstream towards Henley Bridge .
| | Henley Regatta course map - 1893 | However, four different courses have been used over the years. These course changes have all been aimed at improving the prospects for fair and safe racing.
Well, that's the serious stuff out of the way! Now where's that Pimms? |
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