When: Annually
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Every spring, the historic Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race sends crews racing down the Thames from Putney to Mortlake. And every year, we are proud to play our part in making it happen safely.
As owners and operators of Putney Pier, situated right at the start line, Livett’s provides both a physical base for the day and a fleet of specialist vessels the race relies on – from drone platforms and camera boats to the umpire’s launch itself.
The Boat Race is one of the most recognisable events on the River Thames, and every year brings its own mix of familiar requirements and fresh challenges from the race organisers.
Our approach combines the reliability of an established annual role with the flexibility to adapt to whatever that particular year’s race demands.
At the heart of our contribution is Putney Pier, positioned directly at the start of the Championship Course. The pier serves as a working base, supporting vessels, key staff, and often a passenger vessel for supporters wanting a prime vantage point to watch the crews get underway.
Our support for the Boat Race doesn’t begin on race day itself. In the weeks beforehand, crews use the Championship Course for practice outings and official rehearsals, and we typically provide similar marine support throughout this build-up – helping crews, coaches and race organisers get a feel for the course under race-like conditions before the main event.
On the water, we typically deploy a core group of vessels tailored to the race’s needs. Bravo Lima GB operates as the drone platform, providing a stable base for aerial coverage of the race as it develops down the course.
Charlie Lima takes on camera boat duties, with her low-wash make her an ideal choice to follow the action and help capture the race for broadcast and production teams.
Echo Lima I is deployed as a support vessel, part of the wider marine presence that keeps the day running smoothly. Meanwhile our former vessel Lima Lima I usually hosts the umpire’s launch – putting the race officials in position to follow the crews and make the calls that matter most.
Coordinating this mix of roles against the tidal Thames, the volume of other river traffic, and the scale of public interest the race attracts takes detailed planning and a genuine understanding of the course. It’s exactly the kind of high-profile challenge that draws on our full breadth of experience, with our fleet and marine coordination working harmoniously together.
Year after year, the result is the same: a safely delivered race day, with Livett’s vessels and Putney Pier playing their part in one of British sport’s oldest traditions.
Ed Livett, Managing Director of Livett’s, said: “The Boat Race is always one of the highlights of our year. It’s a long-standing partnership built on detailed local knowledge of one of the busiest and most closely watched stretches of the river.
“It’s a real privilege to be involved in an event with such history, right on our own doorstep at Putney. Every year is a little different, whether that’s a change in what the organisers need from us or simply the conditions on the day. But having Putney Pier at the start line and a fleet that can adapt as needed means we are always ready to assist.
“It’s always a pleasure to help send the crews off in style and we look forward to continuing to do so for many years to come.”
Selected images courtesy of Steve Challes
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