Henley Regatta 2021 Update

Is the Henley Royal Regatta cancelled?

Has it been moved back?

In this article we will look at the latest updates and news coming out of the Henley-On-Thames area as well as the Henley Royal Regatta website.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, last year’s Regatta was unfortunately cancelled and visitors from all around the world had to change and cancel their plans. This year seemed to look the same, with rumours of the event being cancelled circulating all around Henley. Before we go into whether it has been cancelled or not, here is a little bit of background for those of you who don’t know.

The History of the Henley Regatta

For those of your who have never heard of the Henley Royal Regatta, the event was founded in 1839 and it has become a British establishment as well as a key date in most people’s calendar.

Henley Royal Regatta is a prestigious sporting event and institute, as well as a global phenomenon that spans back for nearly 200 years. The event is a five-day series of rowing races held (normally) in the first week of July on the River Thames, Henley-On-Thames, Oxfordshire.

The importance of a July start

Not only is this a week that is marked out of most people’s calendars months (or even years) in advance, but it also gives attendees the feeling that summer is truly underway as most students and families can spend time together. It is needless to say that the Henley Royal Regatta is synonymous with July and therefore, many were sad to hear that it wouldn’t be taking place that month.

Over the past year or so, we have seen official updates from the Henley Royal Regatta institution, however, the last update came toward the end of February. The update stated the following:

“As a result of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee of Management of Henley Royal Regatta has reluctantly concluded that the 2021 Regatta cannot now be held from 29 June to 4 July at Henley-on-Thames as originally planned.  However, the Committee has decided against outright cancellation at this stage, and is instead exploring the potential to stage the Regatta in August, in Henley should conditions allow, or if not, at Dorney Lake.” 

Follow this link for the full article with further reasoning about the change of date as well as the possibility of the event being cancelled all together.

The Henley Boating Company will be covering the updates for the Regatta across the summer, so remember to stay tuned for all the news and updates. If you’d like to book a cruise or a self-drive boat for the days of the Henley Regatta, we recommend you get in touch with us soon as availability is limited.

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