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.
A genre of rowing races that we may pay little attention to are the races between naval gigs, sometimes called cutters, whaleboats or galleys. The big sailing warships prior to and during the 19th Century were equipped with gigs to transfer sailors and perform duties for the mother ship. The sailors needed to stay fit to row these gigs into battle, for provisioning and other naval functions. Gig racing was a way to train, add excitement and motivate the crews.
In 1824 while anchored in New York Harbor, an interesting challenge came from Captain Harris on the British frigate Hussar. He challenged any 4-oared New York boat to race. Four Whitehall oarsmen and a coxswain accepted the challenge and raced in the American Star. The race was for $2,000 ($1,000 a side) and was won by the New Yorkers.
1824 Daily National Journal (correction: the English boat was named Dart)
Most of the following images are sourced from internet sites.
1870s – Royal Navy gig race, painting by J.A. Bayley.“US Frigate Colorado Cutter Barge, Daring, Naval Champion of Asia 1870-71-72”.1882 A British Naval Race1886 International Regatta – The Start, The Graphic1886 International Regatta – The Winning Galley, The Graphic
1891 “Boat Racing in the Navy – The Challenge”, Harper’s Weekly
1891 “Boat Racing in the Navy – The Finish”, Harper’s Weekly
1892 “A Naval Landing Party”, Harper’s Weekly
1893 “Saluting the Admiral’s Barge”, Harper’s Weekly
1893 Channel Squadron (UK) Regatta in Arosa Bay, Spain, The Graphic1895 “The North Atlantic Squadron at Bar Harbor”, Harper’s Weekly
All this activity led to fleet or international ships’ crews racing.
Most of the following photographs are real photo post cards (RPPC). They show the pride of the ships’ victorious crews.
The Belmont Cup Race, Guantanamo Cuba
At the turn of the Century, ships’ crews began using curved spoon blades.
1904 The Champions, Boat Crew of the USS Illinois1904 The USS Illinois racing crewCa.1907 HMS Inflexible (UK) racing crew1909 USS Minnesota Battenberg Cup Champions
The Battenberg Cup was instituted in 1906 and continued through 1939. It was donated by Prince Louis of Battenberg to be challenged between British and American naval crews, or if no British crew, then among American crews. It is interesting to see the reporting in many newspapers throughout the country.
Battenberg Cup
Battenberg Cup champions: 1906 – USS Illinois 1907 – HMS Argyll 1908 – USS Louisiana 1909 – USS Minnesota 1912 – USS Missouri 1918 – USS Arizona 1919 – USS Arizona 1920 – USS Nevada 1927 – USS Arkansas 1928 (March) – USS Arkansas 1928 (October) – USS Utah 1929 – USS Arkansas 1931 – USS Arizona 1934 – USS Arkansas 1935 – USS Concord 1936 – USS Concord 1937 – USS Tennessee 1939 – USS Enterprise 1940 – USS West Virginia
1912 USS Missouri Battenberg Cup Champions1912 USS Missouri Wins Battenberg Cup in Guantanamo, The Oregonian1910 HMS Whiting (UK) racing crew1912 HMS Foam (UK) racing crew1912 Race on the Nile
These races were highly competitive. Onboard conditioning was important.
1907 “Toughening Up for a Race” – Leslie’s Weekly1934 USS Arkansas racing crew trainingUSS California racing crew trainingUSN racing crew on Narragansett rowing machines, “Getting in Trim for the Next Race”1940 Royal Navy training box
1943 A USN training station in Sampson, New York
1918 USS Pittsburg racing crew
1919 USS Arizona“Winners of Battenb[e]rg (sp) Cup”
1918 USS Arizona Crew Awarded Battenberg Cup – Evansville Journal
1920 “USS Florida Race Boat Crew”1920 USS Nevada racing crew displaying Battenberg Cup1920s USS Texas racing crewCa. 1922 USS Arizona racing crew
1923 USS Nevada Race Boat Crew “Championship Cutter Crew, Atlantic and Pacific Fleet, Panama Bay”
1926 USS West Virginia racing crew1927 USS Colorado racing crew1928 US Navy “Champion Raceboat Crew”1929 USS Arkansas showing Battenberg Cup1929 USS Colorado racing crew – Seattle Times Champions1929 USS Mississippi racing crew in Panama1929 USS Texas racing crew1930s unknown racing crew1931 HMS Egmont racing crew (UK)1931 USS Arizona Crew winners of Battenberg Cup1931 “USS Lexington Raceboat Crew, Olympic Cup Winners”1934 – USS Arkansas racing crew with Battenberg Cup1934 USS West Virginia racing crew“1935 Olympic Champs – USS Arizona”
1935 USS New Mexico racing crew
1941 USS Arizona racing crewUnknown year – USS Lexington racing crewUnknown year – USS Maryland racing crew
Hear The Boat Sing 