Latest news with #TheBoatRace
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Countdown to the World Pilot Gig Championships 2025
'The Boat Race' may be over, but there is a much bigger one taking place on the Isles of Scilly over this bank holiday weekend. Forget 16 rowers in two boats on a river and imagine more than 3,000 rowers in 130 boats on the Atlantic Ocean. The World Pilot Gig Championships is a fiercely competitive series of rowing races in Cornish Pilot Gigs. Rivalries are as fierce as on the Thames, with last year's winners River Fowey women and Looe men determined to hold onto the coveted trophies. Last year's winners will be hoping to retain their titles (Image: Cornish Pilot Gig Association) All crews will have submitted themselves to gruelling training programmes throughout challenging winter conditions. Some 452 crews will be taking part this year, with four gig rowing clubs from the Netherlands travelling the furthest to be there. It takes two months for the Scillonian ferry and a freighter to bring all the boats to the islands. Gigs lined up ready to race (Image: Cornish Pilot Gig Association) This is the 34th championships, with the event starting in 1990 and taking a two-year break during the pandemic. 'This is a truly spectacular event with some of the long races having more than 100 boats on a mile-long start line. It brings thousands to the islands to take part and spectate,' said Tristan Hick, chairman of the World Pilot Gig Championships, as the islands prepare for the influx of visitors. 'From young rowers just starting out, to seasoned veterans, spectators, and the top-tier athletes who push the sport to its limits – there's a tangible sense of unity, tradition, and excitement that reminds us all why this event is so special. 'We're proud to share our heritage and islands with the world.' Teams ready for the off (Image: Cornish Pilot Gig Association) The event is based on St Mary's, the largest of the five inhabited Isles of Scilly, which are 28 miles off Lands End. Gigs are 32 foot long, traditionally built open wooden boats rowed by six crew and steered by a coxswain. The sport has grown enormously since its revival in the 80s, and there are now 8,000 rowers in 90 clubs spread across the UK, with more in Europe and America. This weekend's racing starts on Friday morning (May 2) and finishes on Sunday afternoon (May 4). Last year's Ladies' winners Fowey (Image: Cornish Pilot Gig Association) Races will be streamed on YouTube (weather permitting) via Among the clubs locally taking part will be Falmouth Pilot Gig Club, and rower Jordan Smith said: 'Falmouth's men's and ladies' squads are heading into the 2025 World Pilot Gig Championships on the Isles of Scilly with depth, determination, and momentum. 'After months of hard training, the club is proud to be fielding the maximum number of crews across multiple race categories — proof of the strength and growth of the squad as a whole.' The Falmouth Men's Squad came together on April 11 to round off the main phase of their pre-season training with a final on-water session around Falmouth Docks. This year marks a major achievement for the squad, as they've qualified the maximum number of racing boats. Three Open crews will represent Falmouth at the Championships, alongside entries in the Veterans, Super Vets, and Masters categories. The Veterans will head into the weekend as defending World Champions, hoping to replicate last year's dramatic win. The Men's A crew enters the competition as current County Champions, while the ever-improving Men's B crew and the strong Falmouth Masters squad are also expected to perform well. Special mention goes to the Super Vets and Men's C crews, who've navigated more last-minute changes than usual but have pulled together impressively in recent weeks. Falmouth Gig Club have been busy preparing (Image: Falmouth Gig Club) Since September, both land and water-based training has been in full swing, with the A and B crews alone racking up over 2,000 sessions. Competition for places has been fierce. The Falmouth Ladies' Squad has trained every bit as hard as their male counterparts, showing fierce commitment across the board. This year, four crews will represent Falmouth in the Women's category. The Ladies A crew features a fresh combination, blending experienced rowers — including former finalists and World Pilot Gig champions—with new talent making their Scilly debut. The Ladies B crew has shown consistent improvement throughout the season. With a solid core of returning rowers, they've developed well as a unit and will be aiming to make their mark in the competition. Joining them are the Ladies Development crew, made up largely of very new rowers who are already defying expectations. As a true unknown quantity, they head into the Championships with the potential to surprise — and could well emerge as dark horses. Also competing in the Open are the reigning Veterans World Champions, the Ladies' Vets crew. After a dominant win last year, they return to defend their title — and their entry into the Women's open shows just how competitive and ambitious this crew remains. The Ladies' Vets B crew will also represent Falmouth in the Veterans category, reflecting their dedication both on and off the water. They're joined by the Ladies' Masters, a crew full of experience and intent, with a clear goal in mind for the weekend.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southampton firms provide electric boats for historic Boat Race
Two Hampshire businesses made history by providing electric boats to support The Boat Race. RAD Propulsion and RS Electric Boats, supplied the electric vessels for the first time to support the Reserves' Boat Races and Veterans' Races on Saturday and Sunday. The electric boats from RAD Propulsion, based in Hamble, and zero-emission Pulse 63 RIB from RS Electric Boats, were used as support vessels in the historic race. These locally developed vessels highlight Southampton's thriving maritime technology sector, according to the businesses. Dan Hook, CEO of RAD Propulsion, said: "For RAD and RS Electric to be supporting such a historic event is a proud moment for our businesses and for Southampton. "We're showing that local innovation can have a national impact, and we hope to see more and more electric boats in the UK's waterways in the future." The Port of London Authority has backed the switch to electric vessels, signalling a shift towards cleaner transport on the Thames. On race day, the locally built vessels carried umpires, officials, and live stream camera operators, ensuring smooth operations and showcasing the potential of electric propulsion. Alex Newton-Southon, CEO of RS Electric Boats, said: "We are incredibly proud to see the Pulse 63 electric RIBs supporting such an iconic sporting event. "This collaboration demonstrates how electric boating can enhance performance and reliability while promoting cleaner waterways for future generations." This milestone highlights the strength of Southampton's maritime industry and the growing role of local businesses in the UK's move towards a sustainable future. Cambridge completed a clean sweep of the prestigious races, winning the men's, women's and both reserve races. It was expected to be a tight battle in the 170th men's edition, but instead the light blue boat built up an early lead and never looked back, shocking an Oxford boat stacked with several Olympians to win their third consecutive men's race by five-and-a-half lengths. Like in 2024, there were also worries about water quality after concerning levels of the E. coli bacteria were found along the course in the weeks leading up to the event.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cambridge University SMASH Oxford in 170th Boat Race
Cambridge University smashed Oxford University in the 170th Boat Race. The race was delayed by ten minutes after some debris was spotted in the water, which was a bit of wood. After complaints from the teams, time passed as they waited for debris to pass the boats before the race began. READ MORE: Oxford University beaten by Cambridge University in women's Boat Race The 170th Boat Race goes to the @Cambridge_Uni Men's Crew! 🏆 — The Boat Race (@theboatrace) April 13, 2025 Both teams started strong with adrenaline pumping, and the first minute saw both teams blast off from the starting blocks. Cambridge started to pull in front after five minutes ahead of the Hammersmith Bridge checkpoint. The Dark Blues could not catch up with their bitter rivals, who stormed to a comprehensive victory on the day. READ MORE: Oxford University's Emma Watson left staff 'breathless' in shop visit Cambridge Men's President Luca Ferraro lifts the trophy with the rest of the team. (Image: John Walton / PA) Cambridge Men's President Luca Ferraro lifted the trophy alongside the rest of the team following the confident performance. Oxford had only won one out of the last six races, with that solitary victory coming in 2022 The Light Blues have now won seven of the last nine races, showing a real dominance in recent years. MORE TO FOLLOW
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chaos on the Thames as Women's Boat Race restarted after dramatic collision
The 2025 Women's Boat Race was dramatically halted and restarted after the Cambridge and Oxford crews collided less than two minutes into the race. Race umpire and four-time Olympic champion Sir Matthew Pinsent was forced to pause proceedings on the River Thames after warning signs were ignored and oars began clashing between the two boats. Pinsent had already waved a white flag at Oxford — a formal warning not to encroach on Cambridge's racing line — but the two boats drifted into each other before the Oxford cox could adjust course. The collision caused a Cambridge rower to lose control of her oar and almost be thrown from her seat. Drama early on in the women's Boat Race as the red flag comes out! 🚩Oxford avoid disqualification and we're back under way on the Thames. 🚣♀️Watch The Boat Race live on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer. #TheBoatRace — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 13, 2025 With both teams brought to a near standstill and momentum lost, Pinsent raised a red flag to suspend the race and assess the situation. Though he had the option to disqualify Oxford, he instead ordered a full restart, awarding Cambridge a narrow advantage due to the earlier infringement. After the restart, Cambridge quickly built a commanding lead and never looked back, eventually crossing the finish line well ahead of Oxford to claim their eighth consecutive victory in the historic showdown. 'There was obviously a clash between the crews,' Pinsent told BBC One after the race. 'In my mind, I was warning Oxford in the run-up to that. Two crews were at standstill so they couldn't keep racing. We had to stop it. 'There was a range of options — disqualification, or changing the result after the race. But it wasn't needed. I'm convinced the better team won. The better, faster crew won. I will go back over it, but it didn't affect the outcome.' It was the first time since 2012 that either the men's or women's Boat Race had to be restarted.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oxford University teams win Boat Race coin tosses vs Cambridge
Both the men's and women's Oxford University teams have won the Boat Race coin tosses against Cambridge. The 170th edition of the men's Boat Race takes place later today at 2.21pm on the River Thames in London. Oxford is set to battle it out with Cambridge in the elite event once again, with the women's race starting at 1.21pm. READ MORE: Oxford University's Emma Watson left staff 'breathless' in shop visit Oxford Women win the toss and have selected Surrey 🪙 #TheBoatRace — The Boat Race (@theboatrace) April 13, 2025 Cambridge has dominated both the men's and women's races in recent years – winning seven consecutive women's titles and five of the past six men's. Oxford has had a successful start today (Sunday, April 13) though as both the men's and women's teams won their respective coin tosses. It will be held on the River Thames, with the 4.25-mile Championship Course stretching nearly seven kilometres from Putney to Mortlake. For those wanting to watch the elite action, all races will be shown on BBC One.
