Chiswick Lifeboats to Watch Over the Boat Race for the Last Time
Crews on standby as 200,000 spectators expected
One of the lifeboats based at Chiswick. Picture: RNLI/David Clarke
April 12, 2025
For what is almost certainly the very last time, the crews of RNLI lifeboats based at Chiswick will be on standby at this weekend’s University Boat Races between Cambridge and Oxford.
For the last 23 years it has been a key part of the effort to keep spectators safe and with over 200,000 people expected to descend on the Thames on Sunday, Two E class lifeboats from Chiswick RNLI Lifeboat Station will join five Arancias, the inshore rescue boat used by the charity’s lifeguards, on the river during the highly anticipated races.
Crews at the Chiswick lifeboat station have carried out several notable rescues on Boat Race Day but are planning to relocate to a new base in Wandsworth later this year. The RNLI will continue to help keep the event safe from the new facilities which are close to the race route just the other side of Putney Bridge .
In 2012, when Trenton Oldfield jumped into the river causing the race to be stopped, he was taken to shore by the Chiswick crew having been fished out of the water by the umpire’s launch.
The previous year shortly after the start of the race, a following launch struck one of the stake boats. Two RNLI lifeboats, including Chiswick's, were patrolling behind the flotilla to manage the situation and ensure spectator safety along the banks.
During a training session ahead of the 2015 Boat Race, the Oxford University Women's Boat Club's eight-person crew and their cox were rescued by the Chiswick RNLI after their boat was swamped by choppy waters and sank. The crew was safely taken to Putney, and their boat was recovered. The same year, Chiswick RNLI rescued 60 spectators who had become cut off by the tide during the Boat Race.
In the lead-up to the 2019 Boat Race, Chiswick Lifeboat responded to two separate capsizing incidents within 24 hours. On 4 April, a quad scull capsized at Barn Elms Reach, and the crew was assisted by the lifeboat. The following day, a single sculler capsized near Chiswick Bridge and was promptly rescued.
This year RNLI lifeguards will also be interacting with spectators on the banks of the river, sharing vital safety information and working to prevent members of the public from accidentally entering the water.
Wayne Bellamy, Station Manager at Chiswick RNLI, said, ‘We hope everyone coming to the races has a great time. Our advice is to be aware of your surroundings. Slips, trips and falls can easily happen, and we urge spectators to keep children close by when near the water’s edge.
‘If you do fall in, remember to Float to Live. Tilt your head back with ears submerged, relax and try to breathe normally, move your hands to help you stay afloat and spread your arms to improve stability.
‘If you do see anyone in trouble, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard and if you can, try and give a location as this will help rescue services get to those in difficulty quicker.’
Tom Ward, RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor, said, ‘Our lifeguards have been working hard in preparation for this year’s Boat Races and we’re looking forward to engaging with spectators on the banks of the Thames.
‘We want everyone to have an enjoyable day, but it’s important to do so safely. We urge everyone to stay out the water.
‘While you’d normally expect to see our lifeguards on beaches throughout the summer, a lot of their work is preventative and they will be working alongside our lifeboat crews on the Thames to keep people safe at this world famous sporting occasion.’
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This page is sponsored by West London Queer Project who support community initiatives in Chiswick.
