Special Attractions for the 2012 Rally
* A Special Display of Healey Boats and Austin Healey Cars from the Thames Valley Austin Healey Club.
* Two 1894 Desvignes steam launches "Consuta" and "Pierrette" are coming. "Consuta" will be giving river trips.
* A flotilla of visiting Dutch Skiffs will be racing against a British team of skiffs.
* The Society of Eccentrics is having a party at the Rally and will be awarding a prize for the most eccentric boat.
* (Sunday Only) A spectacular aerobatics display by the "Chang Gang" flying twoNanchangCJ6 military aircraft.
* A repeat of last year's very successful Friday Night "Welcome To The Rally" Dinner (Book now!)
* And as usual, a magnificent display of around 200 Vintage and Traditional Craft of all shapes and sizes.
* Other attractions as listed below, including the Saturday Night Illuminated Parade of Boats and Bicycles!
The Thames Traditional Boat Rally is, simply put, a huge 2-day display of the very finest-looking traditional boats one can see. It was the dream, back in 1977, of a few keen boaters. Most of these were members of the River Thames Society, others were members of the Inland Waterways Association or Thames boat clubs. Their idea was to encourage owners of traditional craft to cherish and restore them to all their former glory, as well as to continue to use them upon the river. The Rally was to be both a meeting and a showcase for owners and craft, at one of the most beautiful spots on the River Thames, with various trophies and prizes awarded. Happily, it is still going, and becomes more spectacular every year.
The first formal Rally was held in July of 1978 at Fawley Meadows, Henley-on-Thames, and to re-capture that magical day visit our new "History of the Rally" exhibition in the Administration Tent, or click here to visit the online version. Since then the original aims of the Rally have been met in full and the number of traditional craft seen in daily use, on the Thames and elsewhere, grows year by year. Restorations range from minor repair and cosmetic work to ruined hulks which have been completely restored to their former glory (as with "Alaska" below). Some are the products of highly skilled craftsmen in the Thames boatyards, and some are the results of many, many months of loving work by enthusiastic amateurs. Many fine examples of both will be on view at the Rally, and will take part in the many sail-pasts, when their origins and histories will be described by the commentators.
The Thames Traditional Boat Rally is, simply put, a huge 2-day display of the very finest-looking traditional boats one can see. It was the dream, back in 1977, of a few keen boaters. Most of these were members of the River Thames Society, others were members of the Inland Waterways Association or Thames boat clubs. Their idea was to encourage owners of traditional craft to cherish and restore them to all their former glory, as well as to continue to use them upon the river. The Rally was to be both a meeting and a showcase for owners and craft, at one of the most beautiful spots on the River Thames, with various trophies and prizes awarded. Happily, it is still going, and becomes more spectacular every year.
The first formal Rally was held in July of 1978 at Fawley Meadows, Henley-on-Thames, and to re-capture that magical day visit our new "History of the Rally" exhibition in the Administration Tent, or click here to visit the online version. Since then the original aims of the Rally have been met in full and the number of traditional craft seen in daily use, on the Thames and elsewhere, grows year by year. Restorations range from minor repair and cosmetic work to ruined hulks which have been completely restored to their former glory (as with "Alaska" below). Some are the products of highly skilled craftsmen in the Thames boatyards, and some are the results of many, many months of loving work by enthusiastic amateurs. Many fine examples of both will be on view at the Rally, and will take part in the many sail-pasts, when their origins and histories will be described by the commentators.
The Rally is a huge display of traditionally built craft, of any age, both powered and unpowered. The very finest examples of British boatbuilding skills will be on display, together with some similar examples from Europe and the USA. A total of over 200 qualifying craft, ranging from slipper stern launches, gentlemen's day launches, steam launches, river steamers, sailing craft, vintage speedboats, skiffs, rowing boats, punts, unpowered and electric canoes, right through to vintage sea-going cruisers and many of the famous Dunkirk Little Ships attend each year. The craft on display are driven by diesel, petrol, steam, electricity and of course human-power! Acres of wood, varnish, chrome and brass! Some of the craft attending come from ports and rivers elsewhere in the UK, and also from other European countries and the USA - the Rally is not limited to just Thames craft.