The Great River Race is an annual competition held on the River Thames for any traditional-style coxed boat propelled by oars or paddles.
The competition was started in 1988 and covers a 21 mile (34 km) course on the tidal Thames between Ham, London and Greenwich. It is usually held on a Saturday in September.
The rules stipulate that boats must be moved by oars or paddles and have a cox and a passenger (although both cox and passenger may alternate with rowers during the race). Up to 300 boats take part including Gigs, Skiffs, Celtic Longboats, Cutters, Currachs, Dragon Boats, Whaleboats and an assortment of novelty craft. Boats are handicapped by class to provide an overall competition as well as competitions by class. As handicapping is on a slowest-away first basis, this makes for a lively race.
The race attracts serious racers as well as leisure rowers, making it a water-based equivalent of the London Marathon, and an interesting and colourful spectacle for the many who come to watch from the bridges and river banks. Every boat is required to carry a flag, and the prizes include one for fancy dress.
Since 2008, all crews taking part have been equipped with a GPS tracking system which allows both race organisers and members of the public to track the progress of competitors throughout the race by logging on to the Great River Race website.
The race is dependent on the tide and was originally rowed downstream on the outgoing tide. In 2009, the Great River Race was for the first time rowed upstream on an incoming tide. Competitors rowed from Docklands Sailing Club upstream to Ham Landing near Ham House.
The 2010 race took place on Saturday 25th September, was once again run upstream and featured a challenge by a crew from ITN London News issued to their counterparts in BBC London News. The ITN crew took part in a C8 Canadian canoe while the BBC team rowed a Thames Watermen's Cutter.