Forum Topic

great river race - today

greatriverrace.org.ukstaggered start from 07:30 with the first boats reaching Putney by ST +100mins

Adam Tripp ● 639d5 Comments

Hi Adam, the other half did the race for about 9 yrs. A friends husband was also rowing, so I went went on a passenger ferry with her and her son and daughter, we got off at Greenwich with others and went under the tunnel to Poplar side for their evening party. Lovely weather, also remember some young ladies I think from Devon their boat tipped over, gets rough further into London around Blackfriars.

Barbara Stevens ● 639d

Hi Barbara, I finally discovered it starts at 11.30 so the first boats will reach Putney well after 1pm - a lovely day for them!

Adam Tripp ● 639d

Adam,it's changed it now comes from Poplar and goes to Twickenham. A few years ago it went from  Twickenham to Poplar then all the boats had to be towed back.  Don't know about what time it is today. Could take 4 to 5 hours when dragon boats would only take a couple of hours.

Barbara Stevens ● 639d

website quite misleading, apparently the race doesnt start until after 11am, so I guess boats in Putney after 1pm

Adam Tripp ● 639d

My other half with other Putney friends rowed in a  lifeboat, it used to be a houseboat with a concrete ballast in the base.They were the only ones who stood up and rowed the whole way. It was a few years ago now. It used to start at Ham Green and went to Poplar. There were celebrations afterwards at the Poplar Rowing Club. With a cab home,or my son giving us a lift, those were the days.

Barbara Stevens ● 639d