Henley Royal Regatta Henley Royal Regatta Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It differs from the three other regattas rowed over approximately the same course, Henley Women's Regatta, Henley Masters Regatta and Henley Town and Visitors' Regatta, each of which is an entirely separate event. The regatta lasts for five days (Wednesday to Sunday) ending on the first weekend in July. Races are head-to-head knock out competitions, raced over a course of 1 mile,
Henley Boat Races side over a 2000 m course on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames, racing downstream — the opposite direction to the Henley Royal Regatta course — and finishing halfway down Temple Island. The collegiate races take place over a shorter 1750 m course. The races typically include: An Alumnae race has typically also been held in recent years. The lightweight races constitute the varsity race. The first crew receive university half-blues, and is therefore more commonly known as the Lightweight Blue Boat. The reserve crew receive university colours. The intercollegiate races are between the fastest crews from the Oxford Torpids and