An oarsome day out... despite the record heat

Crowds and crews from across the globe gathered at the world-famous Henley Royal Regatta for the start of its races. And despite the scorching weather, Express reporter JOSH WHITE found a host of cool tech innovations to draw in visitors young and old

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THE hottest day of the year didn’t deter hordes of people from descending on Henley Royal Regatta yesterday with organisers saying it was the busiest first day in the event’s 186-year history. Thousands attended the world’s most famous multi-day rowing event in Oxfordshire on Tuesday, many bedecked in lighter attire after the dress code was relaxed for the scorching heat.

Guests and members were relieved of having to wear jackets in the Stewards’ Enclosure of the six-day event held in Henley-on-Thames, although many chose discomfort to honour the tradition of the prestigious dress code, where stripy club blazers and straw boaters are absolutely de rigueur. Parasols were also the must-have accessory in the stifling heat as the mercury hit 31C.

“We've been blown away by the crowd as this is only day one,” Adam Freeman-Pask, a 2012 Olympian and steward of the regatta told the Express, which was invited along to enjoy the opening festivities. “How is this going to build up towards Sunday’s finals? I just don’t know, but I’m really excited to see it.”

Some 768 competitors from 19 nations are competing this year, with a record 589 domestic entries. And while Henley may be known for its elitist reputation — Prince Albert became its first royal patron in 1851, with every reigning monarch since doing likewise — the regatta is in fact attracting record numbers of young people from all walks of life.

That's thanks, in part, to a concerted effort to keep the atmosphere “rarified but relevant”, said Freeman-Pask. Drones whizzing overhead, for instance, will be streaming every one of the 400-plus races live on YouTube to viewers across the world. And crews hailing from the US, Australia, Europe and China are using social media to boost their popularity and summon supporters to their boat house.