Annual Events
Below is a listing of the key events in a typical calendar year. Each entry is designed to give you an overview of the location, the distance involved and the type of boats taking part. If the event has a website then there is a link that you can click for more information.
March - Head of Three Harbours
An 8k ‘pilot’ race for Coastal Rowing Clubs & Boats
in and around the 3 Harbours region - Northney Marina, Hayling Island Sailing Club, Itchenor Sailing Club. Men's, women's & mixed crews
Coastal Quads; Doubles; Pilot Gigs; Bursledon Gigs; St Ayles Skiffs & other Coastal Boats
May - Hamble River Raid - Southampton
7-mile endurance race
Multiple boat types, gigs kayaks dragons etc.
Men's, women's & mixed crews
Vets 50+, supervets 60 +
Start & finish in the same place
June - Bembridge Gig Fest - Isle of Wight
Saturday - 2k straight course
Standing start, side by side racing!
Sunday evening - live music and food
Sunday round St Helens fort, sequential running starts. Men's, women's & mixed crews. All clubs welcome. Apply here
July - Round Canvey Island
This annual 'open' event attracts both rowing and sailing vessels, undertaking a complete circuit of Canvey Island: a distance of 14 ½ miles. Mostly with the tide. Four tidal barrages and bridges to go under.
Men's, women's & mixed crews
Fixed seat and sliding seat row boats, surf ski's, kayaks, outrigger canoes and a variety of sailing dinghies.
July - Cockleshells, Eastney
Chiefly gigs, Burlesdon and galleys. Men's, women's & mixed crews.
Start/ finish ECA Eastney, turn round Horse Sand fort, 9-mile kite shape course
July - Langstone Regatta - Northney Marina
1.3-mile triangular buoyed course.
Men's, women's & mixed crews.
Gigs, Burlesdon galleys Celtics and more
July - Round Hayling Race
13-mile course around Hayling Island
9-mile short course round Mulberry if conditions poor
Start/ finish at Northney. Men's, women's & mixed crews.
Gigs, Burlesdon, Galleys, Celtics etc.
August - Tudor Challenge
A 10+ mile loop rowing race for fixed seat craft held in Langstone Harbour. Men's, women's & mixed crews.
August - Great Tyne Row
The Great Tyne Row is a 25km event allowing participants to enjoy parts of Tyne that are not normally accessible.
The event starts at Newburn (to the east of Newcastle upon Tyne), rowing through the central quayside and finishing at the sea at Tynemouth.
Men's, women's & mixed crews.
September - Great River Race – London
Start at Millwall, finish at Ham
21.6-mile course under 27 bridges
All kinds of fixed seat boats.
More than 200 crews, many crews in fancy dress. Men's, women's & mixed crews.
September - Monster Loch Row
Monster the Loch is a mass participation boat race on Loch Ness.
Any kind of human powered boat is invited to join in the 21miles of adventure.
In 2025, there were 125 crews and 550 competitors from all over the world.
September - Head of the Ouse
A I0 km race (with tide) for fixed seat craft. Men & mixed crewsffrom Newhaven to Lewes & women's crews from Lewes to Newhaven.
