Henley Royal Regatta gets underway six weeks later than usual
Changes have been made to create more space for competitors and the public
Last updated 11th Aug 2021
After being cancelled for the first time in its 182-year history outside of the World Wars, Henley Royal Regatta will returns for five days of competition set to feature a strong domestic entry from schools, clubs and universities, a promising range of overseas crews, as well as Olympians returning from Tokyo.
481 crews from nine nations, including 41 from overseas, due to compete on the famous two-lane match racing course at Henley-on-Thames.
Sir Steve Redgrave, Chairman of the Regatta, said:
“It has been another difficult year for everyone, and the impact of COVID-19 on our competitors, and all involved in the sport, has been immense. Our aim has been for this Regatta to provide a focus for our athletes and to avoid a second lost season, and this has been possible because of the strength of our community and especially the support of our Members.
“The Stewards mandated the Committee to do everything in our power to stage the Regatta this year, with public safety the top priority. Our focus is to look after our competitors, everyone involved in the staging of the Regatta, and the wider Henley community. We will put on the best possible event in the context of both the ongoing pandemic, and all of the disruption and complexity that it has created for the organisation and safe hosting of a major rowing competition.
“It is obviously not business as usual, but our pre-emptive decision in February to move the Regatta back six weeks from its traditional place in the calendar, has given us welcome flexibility. It has allowed us time to plan, reconfigure and create three separate Covid-protocolled zones for competitors, Members, and now ticketed supporters – who we envisage largely being the friends of family of competitors for a mainly ticketed event this year.”
For the first time qualifying for the event took place at Dorney Lake instead of Henley, and in another change the boat tents have been moved from their normal position next to teh Leander club to Fawley Meadows on the other side of the Thames.