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His red starting flag as yet unfurled, Henley Chairman Richard Phelps goes through the Henley start procedure for the benefit of two crews about to race in the 2021 regatta: “When I see that you are both straight and ready, I will start you like this. Attention (raises flag)… Go” (drops flag)!
30 April 2026
By Tim Koch
With two months to go before Henley Royal Regatta 2026, tickets for members and non-members are now on sale. For the first time, spectators can book grandstand seats to view the Qualifying Races on Friday 26 June, providing a unique opportunity to watch crews compete for a place at the Regatta from a comfortable, sheltered vantage point (with) live race coverage… shown on screens within the grandstand.
“Qualifiers” are timed processional races over the regatta course with the fastest boats qualifying for those places remaining in an event after other crews have been pre-qualified by the Stewards.
A recent visit to Henley showed regatta preparations well underway though the erection of the boat tents has not yet been done, the pontoons are still to be put in place and, on the river, the booms, piles and boxes await installation.
The area next to Leander Club that will become the boat tent area.
Booms awaiting positioning. Constructing the race course involves driving over 300 timber posts (piles) into the river bed and then connecting the floating booms between each post.
This spot near the finish will be adjacent to the floating grandstand.The skeleton of the floating grandstand can be seen on the far right on the Bucks side of the river.The Chairman (right) has been taking a “hands on” approach to preparing Henley Reach for the world’s most famous regatta and he has been aided by a crack team including Olympic Gold Medalists such as Greg Searle (left). This particular shot was taken during a river clean up for World Earth Day.The finished product in 2022.
Henley Royal Regatta 2026, Tuesday, 30 June – Sunday, 5 July.
Hear The Boat Sing 