First time I've made the regatta and what a fantastic day on the water. Even just pootling in convoy up and down the regatta course reach provides its navigational challenges and what speed do those umpire boats following the races get up to?
When they are following an eights race, they must be well into double digit speeds. The wash from them is huge, enough to spill ones champers even when holding the glass - good fun though as it feels you're in a 4 foot swell for a few seconds.
Another interesting sight was the "goose wardens". A couple of rowing coach boats assigned to shepherd the geese away from the course. Early on before too many boats out, loads of geese being cajoled towards the Bucks bank literally by hook and by crook and some bird food as well, with limited success.
Plenty of mooring just above the river and rowing museum, but you do need mooring pins as no rings along that stretch.
If you have the chance of getting down there, totally recommend it, boats of all shapes and sizes, it really is a boat fest with everyone just enjoying being on the water in whatever way they can.
we were moored up opposite the finish line when the ladies regatta was on a few weeks ago - the wash was very severe then, had to hold on a few times to avoid falling over.
Thanks Byron, that makes sense. Also, the action at the start is quite impressive as the umpire boats really gun it, to get up to speed, so the sound of the motor adds to the sense of acceleration.
Do you know if they use these boats at any other time of the year or are they kept in mint condition just for the regatta?
apparently some young woman was asked to leave today as she was wearing a short skirt, she had to walk into town to buy a suitable one. The organizers said they wanted to preserve a 30's garden party atmosphere.
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Don't tow it, lift & stow it, with the "DinghyStow" no davits required www.DinghyStow.com
Malc
The rule for the Stewards enclosure has always been skirts below the knee, does seem a bit out of kilter in this day and age, but thats what makes Henley Henley.
The wash they make is remarkably smooth considering the speed, if i did 12knts along there I'd produce a tidal wave [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
I'm in the mood for interesting questions tonight.
Why are they allowed to act in such a reckless manner? Is this the one rule for us and another for them? Or is 'the need of the sport' paramount? Mustn't create wash, we're told, damages the river banks and wildlife habitat.
It's simply not good enough. They should be made to enjoy their regatta as rowers and leave out al the whizzy thingies. I daresay a decent lawyer could make a case for me being able to do more than 4 knots if they can........
Strasbourg here we come...... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
(PS , in case you're wondering what I'm on, did you see that post from No_Regrets saying he is my friend !!!!)
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Yet another gem from an old fart with attitude .........
"The organizers said they wanted to preserve a 30's garden party atmosphere."
Load of olde tosh.....
Surely the "mode de la Henley" should be the 1920s and the flappers,no frumpy granny dresses required allowed.
Somebody ought to drag that lot into the 19th Century.
Anything Goes
Times have changed,
And we've often rewound the clock,
Since the Puritans got a shock,
When they landed on Plymouth Rock.
If today,
Any shock they should try to stem,
'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,
Plymouth Rock would land on them.
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
Was looked on as something shocking,
But now, God knows,
Anything Goes.
Good authors too who once knew better words,
Now only use four letter words
Writing prose, Anything Goes.
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today,
And black's white today,
And day's night today,
When most guys today
That women prize today
Are just silly gigolos
And though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose,
Anything goes
When grandmama whose age is eighty
In night clubs is getting matey with gigolo's,
Anything Goes.
When mothers pack and leave poor father
Because they decide they'd rather be tennis pros,
Anything Goes.
If driving fast cars you like,
If low bars you like,
If old hymns you like,
If bare limbs you like,
If Mae West you like
Or me undressed you like,
Why, nobody will oppose!
When every night,
The set that's smart
Is intruding in nudist parties in studios,
Anything Goes.
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today,
And black's white today,
And day's night today,
When most guys today
That women prize today
Are just silly gigolos
And though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose,
Anything goes
If saying your prayers you like,
If green pears you like
If old chairs you like,
If back stairs you like,
If love affairs you like
With young bears you like,
Why nobody will oppose!
And though I'm not a great romancer
And though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose,
Anything goes...
Anything goes!
Sounds like you need a revolution in Berks.
[img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
The umpire launches will make 25mph + flat-out ( 5 x the speed limit!!). Most of those in use at HRR are modern GRP replicas with modern power-plants. Originally had straight-six Austins possibly.
Amaryllis is an original boat (restored, private ownership) and the GRP versions were moulded from her hull. Enchantress (built and still owned by Hobbs) is another original from 1913. Both have modern engines. These are all 50ft boats.
ARIADNE, HERACLES, ULYSSES, ARGONAUT all belong to HRR. BOSPOROS comes from Oxford Brookes Uni
If the organisers are quick then maybe Olivia Harrison (Friar Park) or maybe Remenham Place (as private locations) could host the firework display - both venues easily visible for a firework display from the river. Don't know how long it take to set this sort of thing up though.
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Much work still remains to be done before I can announce my total failure to make any progress www.seraph-sailing.com
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Maybe it was an unexpected event after-all the regatta is relatively new to the town....
[/ QUOTE ]
I have spoken with a mole...
The event was very expected. The trouble is that Wokingham end up footing the bill for the policing when while the event benefits Henley, on the other side of the river. So they don't want to pay for it and have found an excuse not to. A bean counter has spotted this and there is allegedly a stand off between the two respective councils. Should we ask Private Eye to dig deeper?
Henley Regatta
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