TheTamesis Regatta is a series ofboat races in theUniversity of Oxford,England, held annually in the seventh week ofMichaelmas term (late November). Novice crews (of eight rowers with a cox) representing eachcollege compete against each other, often for the first time.[1][2]
The nameTamesis comes from theLatin name of the riverThames, itself from the old BrittonicTamesas (modernWelshTafwys), on which the regatta takes place. It likely means 'dark'.[3]
There are separate men's and women's races, with many colleges entering more than one crew.
While the race used to be known as theChrist Church Regatta, the regatta is now organised by whichever Oxford College club wins a competitive bidding process run byOURCs.[2][4] Since 2022, the regatta has been organised and run byLinacre Boat Club.[5]
The comparative race inCambridge isClare Novice's Regatta.[6]
The regatta is held on theIsis, the stretch of theRiver Thames running throughOxford, inChrist Church Meadow (the park in Oxford belonging toChrist Church).[7]
The competition is run over up to four days in total, from Wednesday of 7th week in Michaelmas Term to Saturday of 7th Week. Races are head-to-head[1] between two teams that are chosen at random. The winner of the race will progress to the next round of races. The loser may be knocked out so that they no longer race. However, the loser of a first round race will enter therepechage, meaning that they have the chance to stay in the competition. The knock-out rounds of the competition proceed until two crews are left to race against each other in the Final.[8]
A regatta of novice crews has potential problems, with crews catching crabs, clashing or stopping. If racing becomes dangerous the race will be stopped by klaxon. In 2012 deteriorating river conditions led to racing being suspended after a crew got into trouble while marshalling at the end of their race.[9] The regatta was cancelled in 2019, 2023 and 2024 due to high river conditions, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10][11]
