MBELDOG BLOG

Henley Royal Regatta 2011 is being held from Wednesday 29th June to Sunday 3rd July.‏ Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage. It should not be confused with the three other regattas rowed over approximately the same course (Henley Women's Regatta, Henley Veterans Regatta and Henley Town and Visitors Regatta), each of which is an entirely separate event.
The regatta lasts for 5 days (Wednesday to Sunday) over the first weekend in July. Races are head-to-head knock out competitions, raced over a course of 1 mile, 550 yards (2,112 m). The regatta regularly attracts international crews to race. The most prestigious event at the regatta is the Grand Challenge Cup for Men's Eights, which has been awarded since the regatta was first staged.
As the regatta pre-dates any national or international rowing organisation, it has its own rules and organisation, although it is recognised by both British Rowing (the governing body of rowing in England and Wales) and FISA (the International Federation of Rowing Associations). The regatta is organised by a self-electing body of Stewards, who are largely former rowers themselves. Pierre de Coubertin modelled elements of the organisation of the International Olympic Committee on the Henley Stewards.
The regatta is regarded as part of the English social season. As with other events in the season, certain enclosures at the regatta have strict dress codes.










One has to pay careful thought when getting dressed for Henley Royal Regatta. It's the rowing fixture of the season, and, like Royal Ascot, which kicked off the summer social sporting calendar last month, has a strict dress code; in some respects it's even stricter than the racing week.
It goes without saying that anyone entering the Stewards' Enclosure will be turned away if their dress does not cover the knee. Trousers, culottes, divided skirts and skirts with splits are forbidden. Gentlemen must wear a lounge suit or a blazer with flannels and a shirt and tie is a total necessity.
Once you have paid heed to these rules, keep it smart. Hats are encouraged, but not enforced - especially not over-the-top styles; although in this weather they are advisable.
We have come up with two dressing solutions suitable for a day out at Henley: A striking and sharp look based around a sunny yellow dress by Marks and Spencer, and a softer, more demure ensemble, for those who prefer pastel shades.
So enjoy, as off they row and off they go!

The Stewards' Enclosure
Situated on the Berkshire bank near the finish of the Course, this is a private Enclosure and admission is only available to Members and their Guests. There are two Grandstands as well as many rows of deckchairs along the river frontage.

Luncheons and teas are obtainable and there is also a Seafood Restaurant serving throughout the day. On Sunday, in addition to to the usual menu available in the Luncheon Marquee, the Seafood Restaurant will be serving a special 2-course traditional cold lunch platter for £21. No advance bookings will be taken for this special platter.

In addition there are a number of licensed bars including a Champagne and Oyster Bar.


Dress
Those attending the Regatta in the Stewards' Enclosure must dress in accordance with long-established tradition. Gentlemen are required to wear lounge suits, or jackets or blazers with flannels, and a tie or cravat. Ladies are required to wear dresses or skirts with a hemline below the knee and will not be admitted wearing divided skirts, culottes or trousers of any kind. Ladies are encouraged to wear hats. Similarly, no one will be admitted to the Stewards' Enclosure wearing shorts or jeans. Members are particularly asked to bring the dress code to the attention of their Guests, to ensure that the standards are maintained and to avoid the possibility of embarrassment of a Guest being refused admission.


In 2009 The chairman of the exclusive rowing club announced that all male spectators in the Stewards' Enclosure could remove their blazers and flannels before lunch.

However, the dress code was only relaxed slightly - they were ordered to retain their ties or cravats.

No such decision has been made since the summer of 1976.

The weather for this summer's event is a marked change from recent years, which have been particularly wet.

The event which is 170 years old, is steeped in tradition much of which surrounds entry to and mingling in the Stewards' Enclosure.
29 Jun 2009
The dress code is strict, men must wear jacket and tie and ladies' skirts must feature hemlines below the knee.
The announcement was made over the loudspeakers at 11am on Wednesday by chairman Mike Sweeney who said: "In view of the current high temperatures, gentlemen may remove their jackets but not their ties or cravats and only for the remainder of today."
As the day went on, regatta enthusiasts searched out shade as the hot weather continued on the second day of the event on the Thames.
It was not just the spectators that were struggling in the heat, rowers were also seen lying exhausted on the pontoons after races.
John Turnbull, from Weybridge Rowing Club in Surrey, said: "Rowing is much nicer when it is not too hot and not too cold."
An estimated 30,000 people are expected to attend the five-day event, in which 468 crews from 15 different countries will compete on the course on the Oxfordshire stretch of the water.