We look forward to welcoming you to the regatta and hope you have a very enjoyable and successful couple of days racing.
COURSE
The Regatta takes place on the River Thames within a boomed 1000m upstream course between Temple Island and Upper Thames Rowing Club on the same reach as the wold-famous Henley Royal Regatta.
The Start is at a point about 100 metres upstream of Temple Island. The Finish is about 3 metres below the floating pontoon in front of the UTRC boathouse. The start is from stakeboats.
For those new to this Regatta please note the Berkshire bank of the river (Berks – on the bank there are dogs that bark) is the side from which you will boat. The other bank is the Buckinghamshire bank (Bucks – on the river side there are ducks).
EVENT TIMES
The event starts at 9:00 AM on the Friday and at 8:00 AM on the Saturday. Races are scheduled 4 minutes apart. Both days finish at 6:00 PM.
DIRECTIONS
For directions to the site please see Location. HMR requests that all competitors and spectators follow a voluntary one-way system when arriving and leaving the site. Regardless of when you arrive please approach the Regatta via the top of Remenham Hill (down Remenham Church Lane). This will enable you to easily enter Hillside Car & Trailer Park through Gate B. Please do not drive down Rememham Lane near Henley Bridge.
Regardless of when you leave Hillside Car park, please turn left down Remenham Lane, past Upper Thames Rowing Club towards Henley Bridge. The one-way system will avoid trailers meeting cars at narrow points in the lane. Your support in making this work is greatly appreciated and by working together we can avoid the costs and complications of an enforced traffic order.
ACCESS
The carpark and gates for the regatta are open at the times listed below. Any questions beyond this, please email access@henleymastersregatta.org.uk.
Until Thursday 6 July 2023, 12 noon:
NO ACCESS to any parts of the Regatta site including Hillside car park. It is NOT possible to bring trailers (not even to just quickly drop off boats).
Thursday 6 July 2023:
Hillside car park: Gate B (opposite boating area) open from 12 noon to 11 pm; Exit Gate (opposite UTRC): closed all day.
Racks may be available from later afternoon on the Thursday – please be mindful that we will still be preparing the site and follow all health and safety directions you are given.
Friday 7 July 2023:
Hillside car park: Gate B (opposite boating area) open from 7 am to 9 pm; Exit Gate (opposite UTRC): open from 12 noon to 9 pm.
Boating area gate: open from 7 am to 7 pm for carrying boats into the boating area. No vehicular access.
Saturday 8 July 2023:
Hillside car park: Gate B (opposite boating area) open from 6 am to 9 pm; Exit Gate (opposite UTRC): open from 1 pm to 9 pm.
Boating area gate: open from 6 am to 7 pm for carrying boats into the boating area. No vehicular access.
Sunday 9 July 2023:
All gates closed.
At no time may a competitor access the restricted fenced off areas. Anyone who does so is not only risking injury but also disqualification from the Regatta.
Boating out of UTRC during this time is only by prior arrangement with the club. Contact (visitors@utrc.org.uk) for more information.
SPECTATORS
There is no charge or dress code for spectators. There will be tickets available for spectators to follow in the umpires’ launches behind races to accommodate up to 8 people per race at the umpire’s discretion (some umpires’ launches do not have space for spectators). Tickets are free of charge and available from the regatta official on the bench downstream from the start by where spectators get on and off the launches.
CAR & TRAILER PARKING
The Henley Masters Regatta Car & Trailer Park is located in Hillside car park (above the main Regatta site). Opening times are given above. Do not arrive outside these times since you will not be able to access the regatta site.
Limited mobility parking is available in the Boating area – please contact the Entries Secretary to request your access pass.
Please note, that for 2023, the field just inside the Hillside carpark is more narrow than usual. Parking marshals will be asking non-towing vehicles to park further down the field to allow trailers to be positioned closer to the entrance. This is to help minimise the distance boats need to be carried.
Parking charges in 2023 will be GBP 10 per vehicle per day (cash or card). Vehicles towing trailers are permitted free of charge and will be given a Towing Vehicle card to complete with their registration number for re-entry of that particular vehicle at a later time. These Towing Vehicle cards are not transferrable. Parking charges will be applied to vehicles with boats on roof-racks. Pre-booking of parking is NOT required.
Competitor vehicular access to Remenham Riverside (boating area) is not permitted AT ANY time. Please remove all boats from the boating area following completion of racing on Saturday. Any boats remaining beyond this time shall be removed. Please note that security is not provided at any time (including overnight) and vehicles and equipment are left at competitors own risk.
Car & trailer parking is not available at Upper Thames Rowing Club at any time during Henley Masters Regatta.
Boat Registration
All boats racing on the River Thames in Henley must be registered with the Environment Agency (“EA”). UK Club representatives can register club or individual boats via British Rowing. Please see British Rowing – Information on EA registrations for more information. HMR is not able to issue temporary licences.
Overseas crews who are bringing their own boats can either:
a) buy a temporary EA registration for £9.10 lasting 7 days. You apply for this directly via the Environment Agency by downloading and completing Form TH FIN/149 using this link: River Thames application for unpowered pleasure boats annual / short term / clubs . Send it post or by phone + 44 3708 506506 or email boatreg@environment-agency.gov.uk. Alternatively once you are in the UK you can buy this temporary registration direct from a local lock keeper. Marsh Lock is 1 mile from the HMR course. You will receive a temporary licence sticker which can be affixed to your boat. No EA ID number will be issued.
b) buy an annual registration via British Rowing. British Rowing will give you an EA ID number but you will still need to create a number to affix to the side of your boat. For further information on this option see British Rowing Boat Registration FAQs (select Overseas crew question) or email membership@britishrowing.org.
Henley Masters Regatta takes no responsibility for unregistered boats. If you are borrowing or hiring boats from UK clubs then please check with your hirer that your boat is already registered. If you have any queries on Boat Registration please contact the EA direct on boatreg@environment-agency.gov.uk or contact the boat registration specialist at British Rowing.
Accommodation
Crews should visit: Henley Visitor Information Centre or call 44 (0)1491 578034 Mon – Sat 9am – 4pm.
Toilets
Ten toilets will be available in the competitors’ area which will be maintained throughout the regatta for your convenience.
Camping
The following campsites are nearby and pre-booking is strongly advised. Transport will be required.
Hurley Riverside Park: www.hurleyriversidepark.co.uk
Swiss Farm Camping: www.swissfarmcamping.co.uk
Please note that camping is strictly prohibited at Upper Thames Rowing Club and all areas of Temple Island Meadows including Gate B Hillside car & trailer park.
Catering
There is a mobile catering unit in the competitors area providing fresh coffee, tea, food, cakes and snacks. A fully licensed bar will also be operating selling a wide range of refreshments.
The Organising Committee asks that all waste is disposed of in the bins provided.
Gazebos
A limited number of gazebos will be permitted at Henley Masters Regatta. Please ensure that they are put up out of the way of any through traffic – behind the boat racks at the back of the field or in the carpark.
Trade Stands
If you are interested in exhibiting at Henley Masters Regatta please contact tradestands@henleymastersregatta.org.uk
BRITISH ROWING MEMBERSHIP INSURANCE
Please note that the British Rowing membership insurance is only valid for UK residents who are resident in this country for more than six months in a year.
