Great River Race

🚨 12 DAYS TO GO! 🚨

The countdown is VERY much on… 👀🚣‍♀️

Just 12 days until hundreds of boats take to the Thames for 21.6 miles of rowing, racing and absolute Great River Race chaos! 🎉

From Millwall to Ham, crews will row beneath London’s iconic bridges, past some of its most famous landmarks and all the way to that very welcome finish line. 🙌

Boats ready? ✅
Crew ready? 🤞
Fancy dress sorted? 👀
Training done? …probably too late to worry about that now. 😂

12 DAYS. WHO’S EXCITED?! 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

Drop your boat name and number below and let us know who we should be looking out for! 👇

🚨 START NUMBERS & START TIMES ARE LIVE! 🚨

The countdown to the Great River Race 2026 is well and truly on! 🚣‍♀️🚣‍♂️

Your Start Number and Start Time have now been added to the Pre-Race Information page on our website, under the Race Information tab.

👉 https://greatriverrace.org.uk/pre-race-information/

⏳ Please wait for the page to fully populate before selecting your Entry Number or Boat Name.

Your listed time is the time you will cross the start line in front of the Start Barge at Millwall. Please make sure you are afloat at least 50 minutes before your start time.

A few important reminders:
🚣 Boat towed overnight?�Someone from your crew must attend to your boat on the beach before 10:15am, when boats will begin to float as the tide rises. From this point, your boat is your responsibility – not the GRR Marshals'.

📍 Registration�You MUST register at the desk at Millwall and collect your electronic timing tracker. We have 271 boats to register, so please allow plenty of time! Only one crew member needs to register.

🥓 The important stuff… bacon butties & loos!�Leave yourself time for both. We've doubled the number of loos this year, but there will still be queues – please arrive dressed ready to race and don't use the loos as changing rooms.

🚚 Final check: Have you booked any tow, crane or parking you need?

📅 More race information will be released on 5 September.

Not long now… who's getting excited?! 👀🚣‍♀️

🚣 ONE MONTH TO GO! 🚣

The countdown is officially ON! In just one month, hundreds of crews will be taking on 21.6 miles of the Thames for the Great River Race 2026. 🎉

📅 Saturday 12 September
⏰ First boat away at 12:45pm

If you’re racing with us this year, now is the time to make sure all those final bits of race admin are sorted:

✅ Entry fees should now be fully paid. Unpaid places will now be released.

🏗️ Craning & Tows: Last call for crane requests at Ham or South Dock Marina, plus tows from Ham to the start at Millwall. Remember: no Crane Card = no access to the finish crane.

🚌 Bus Transfers: Staying at the campsite or a hotel and need transport to the start? This MUST be booked in advance, you won’t be able to simply jump on a coach on race morning.

🛥️ Supporters Boat: Want friends and family to follow the action aboard the Connaught? Make sure their places are booked.

👥 Crew Names: Complete the Crew Names form. We need these for safety and to validate Veteran and Junior trophy entries.

📱 Safety Mobile: Double-check that the mobile number supplied with your entry will be the monitored phone in the boat on race day. A WhatsApp group will be used for race-day communication.

⏱️ Electronic Tracker: Nominate someone NOW to be responsible for returning your tracker immediately after finishing, along with your race flag and clamps.

👕 GRR Kit: Want your official kit in time for race day? Order by 18 August.

🎥 Safety Video: Make sure your whole crew has watched the GRR Safety Video under the Race Information section of the website.

🚁 Drones: Please remember that drones must NOT be used to follow the race due to the proximity of Battersea Heliport.

📜 Certificates: Collect yours from the Certificate Tent by 5pm on race day. They will not be posted afterwards.

All forms and further information can be found on the Great River Race website.

One month. 21.6 miles. One incredible day on the Thames.

Who’s getting excited?! 🙌🚣‍♀️🚣‍♂️

Missed out on a place in the Great River Race? 🚣

A few spaces have become available again, apply quickly, as they won’t be around for long!

https://greatriverrace.org.uk/services-and-forms/

Ready to come watch the GRR this year?

Travel the GRR course in the Connaught, a traditional river Thames passenger boat built in 1976. The vessel has been regularly updated to meet modern safety and comfort standards but retains its original style.

There is also a large open top deck, excellent for viewing, and the saloon has a fully licensed bar serving simple snacks. There are toilet facilities on board.

The Connaught sets off for the finish at Ham as soon as the last boat has crossed the Start line at Millwall.

Tickets must be booked in advance by emailing [email protected] quoting ‘GRR Supporters Boat’. Tickets cost £45.

🚣 WE’RE OFFICIALLY FULL! 🚣

Entries for this year’s Great River Race are now closed, having reached the maximum number of boats agreed with the Port of London Authority.

A huge congratulations to all crews who have secured their place on the start line! 🎉

If your crew circumstances change and you can no longer race, please let us know as soon as possible. We have a substantial waiting list and releasing your place quickly allows another crew time to organise their travel and plans.

See you on the river! 🌊

Not entered yet? Don't hang around... not many places left!

Only 99 places left in this years GRR 2026!!

Still thinking about entering?

Get that submission in soon…

You guys have been speedy this year... 100 entries already in and we are only a week into entries being open!

Are you coming to this years GRR?