Henley Royal Regatta 2021 expected to go ahead in August

The postponed Henley Royal Regatta 2021 is expected to go ahead from Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 August 2021. It was initially planned to take place between Tuesday 29 June and Sunday 04 July but was postponed due to COVID -19 lockdown restrictions.

Henley Royal Regatta is undoubtedly the best-known regatta in the world and a highlight of both the summer sporting calendar and the social season. It attracts thousands of visitors over the five days.

Spectators are thrilled by over 300 races of an international standard, which can include Olympic rowers as well as crews that are new to the event.

In a statement, the organiser of Henley Regatta said: “Our ambition remains to stage the best regatta possible this summer in the context of the ongoing pandemic, with the health and safety of all those involved in the event, as well as wider public health remaining our highest priorities.

“These are followed by our continued desire to offer the competitive pinnacle for the sport that Henley Royal Regatta represents, and to which athletes and coaches can aspire as our sport emerges from lockdown.”

The Committee of Management announced the deferral of the 2021 regatta, subject to the outcome of a programme of stakeholder engagement which began with a survey of members earlier in the year.

The government, public health authorities, local agencies and communities, contractors and rowing clubs, domestic and overseas, were also consulted.

It is understood that staging the Regatta in Henley-on-Thames on these dates is contingent on several factors, including the government continuing to ease restrictions in accordance with its revised roadmap out of lockdown.

While the intention of the Stewards is for the Henley Royal Regatta to go ahead in Henley this August, it is worth pointing out that things will be different this year to help keep everyone as safe as possible.

The Qualification and General Rules of the event have been amended to address eligibility issues caused by the new dates – and the essential intent will be to ensure that any athlete who would have been eligible to race on the original dates of 29 June to 04 July, will remain eligible on the revised dates.