This website covers all aspects of the rich history of rowing, as a sport, culture phenomena, a life style, and a necessary element to keep your wit and stay sane.
Eton: Jolly Floating Weather Part II, The Upper Boats
Eton’s flag is derived from the Royal Arms of Henry VI, reflecting his founding of the college in 1440. A strong wind blowing throughout the morning threatened to make the custom of standing in the eights taking part in the Procession of Boats a more challenging experience than usual. Fortunately, the wind dropped before the aquatic festivities took place.
24 June 2025
By Tim Koch
Tim Koch continues his report on this year’s Procession of Boats at Eton College by looking at the “Upper Boats”, those crewed by 17-18-year-olds who race in J18 and eligible Senior British Rowing events. (Read Part I here.)
This picture of the Hibernia was taken during the 2017 Procession from the deserted Fellows’ Eyot and it is reproduced here to show the spectators with the school buildings in the background.The boats taking part in the 2025 Procession marshal towards the downstream end of Fellows’ Eyot. In the distance, Windsor Castle is flying the Royal Standard indicating that the King had returned there after that morning’s Trooping the Colour in central London.
I took photographs of the crews as they rowed downstream to the marshalling area and also as they came back upstream as part of the Procession. Thus, in my pictures they will be shown rowing both left to right and right to left.
The Monarch
The first boat to stand and salute the King, the memory of George III and the School was The Monarch, the ten-oar. As is the custom, the crew consisted of four ex-officio rowers: the Captain of the School (the top scholarship boy); the Captain of the Oppidans (the top academically most distinguished boy); the Ninth Man in the Monarch (responsible for running internal rowing races); the Captain of Boats (who runs the First Eight). The remainder were “members of The Monarch”, senior boys who help administer internal rowing. The rules of Eton College Boat Club say that: “All instructions given by members of The Monarch must be followed without argument.
The coxswain of The Monarch, wearing a Royal Navy Captain’s insignia, is the first to stand.As The Monarch has swivel rowlocks, the oars are left on the water and the crew stands at the same time. Here, each time they wave their hats in salute, they shake the flowers off – though some blooms prove difficult to dispose of. The crew sits before the coxswain takes his seat.The Monarch returns to Masters’ Boathouse.
Victory – The 1st VIII
Following The Monarch was Victory crewed by “The First Eight” or simply “The Eight”, Eton’s best who will attempt to win the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in two weeks’ time. As Victory has normal swivel rowlocks with the gate closed by a metal bar, the boys leave their oars on the water and all stand at the same time.
Some fine examples on both millinery and floristry modelled by 3, 4 and 5.The cox gives the order to stand.The salutes done, the order to sit is given.Victory retires.
Prince of Wales – The 2nd VIII
On their way to the marshalling area.
Prince of Wales takes its turn to Process.
Although Prince of Wales has open fixed pin gates, it is the only boat rigged in such a way in the Procession where the gates are “closed” with twine and the crew acts as those with swivel rowlocks do and stand together with oars left in the gates and on the water. I presume that the boat is too unstable to do otherwise.The crew and cox sit at the same time. This also gives a good view of the open gate closed with twine.Not shaking all the flowers from your boater during the standing salutes can cause problems.
Britannia – The 3rd VIII
Britannia and the remaining six other boats in the Procession all have open gates and the crews will hold their oars upright and stand up in pairs.After the cox, 4 and 5 hold up their oars and then stand up…Followed by 3 and 6…
Then 2 and 7…
And finally, by bow and stroke. They sit down again in reverse order.The nicest kind of jetsam.
Hear The Boat Sing 