2025 Great River Race - Sat 20th Sept

[CJL]

Evening all,
Just a gentle reminder that the annual Great River Race (Link) will be taking place on Saturday (20th) on the Tideway. Its an amazing celebration of traditional rowing and paddling and the 21.6 mile route earns it its unofficial title of "London's Other Marathon".
Restricted navigation, local traffic control, pier closures and river closures can be expected in various places between Greenwich and Eel Pie Island. The Port of London Authority have published a Notice to Mariners which includes much more details can be found here - https://pla.co.uk/notices/M118-25.
If you are interested in watching there is a list of locations and times here - Observation points – The Great River Race
Boat movements to support the race are likely to start from 0300hrs when large tows will head down river through till about 1800hrs when the last racing boats return to Ham. The actual race starts at 1015hrs at Millwall Dock.
If you are taking part then best of luck to you and your crew!
Many thanks
Chris

 

[Keith 66]

I first did the GRR back in 97 then another 4 times from 2004 onwards. Brilliant event to take part in.
I prefered it when it raced from Richmond to Blackwall rowing club, the after race party & sing song was legendary!
Plus it wasnt so far home to Benfleet!

 

[Pump-Out]

@CJL
That's a great shot of the bulk tow going under Tower Bridge.

I'm a little bit amazed, though - The PLA have a max of any eight tows being pulled by one tug. Do they turn a blind eye for this event? The only similar one I have ever seen is a bulk tow on it s way to Ramsgate, before Op Dynamo.

 

[CJL]

@Pump-Out - I'm sorry I have no idea about the towing arrangements.
That said out of my own curiosity I have since done a bit of googling and it appears the limits are 50mx15m above Tower and 140mx27m below Tower....mind you I'm not an expert so don't take my word for it!
#googlecertified
CJL

 

[Agigrower]

I raced for the first time in 1997 too, then a gap until 2023. We rowed again this year in our Cornish Pilot Gig 'Amazon', winning the Fastest crew of the day, Veterans over 40 and Cornish Pilot Gig categories.
Its a great event, our boat was in one of the rafts being towed downstream, it went past me as I had a pint outside London Cornish gig club in Richmond about 6pm Friday evening. There was more than one tow, as I saw another depart Richmond about 8pm too. Our gig was in a raft 7 abreast, probably about 5 long on that tow too

 

[Keith 66]

Best result we had was 34th overall rowing an 18ft Hanningfield skiff, she was set up randan style with a sweep oareach end & pair of sculls in the middle. We had two rowers injured before the start & a third damn near slipped a disc at the houses of parliament, for a while i thought we were going to have to get a lifeboat to take him off.
It was a strong westerly wind against tide & very rough indeed.
That was the last time i did it.