Stratford upon Avon Boat Club are delighted to welcome City Barge to our annual fine boat regatta.
City Barge is an interestingly different rowing club, dedicated to rowing beautiful and sometimes historic boats. The club is based at Long Bridges Boathouse on the River Isis (or Thames) in Oxford near the confluence with the River Cherwell, not far from the Oxford Canal.
They practise regularly in Oxford and also row in many other places in the UK and Europe. Every May City Barge goes to Venice to take part in the Voga Longa, which is 32km and demands some fitness and the ability to handle wind, tide and choppy conditions. The City Barge’s members are all ages and both male and female. They have the common interest in wanting to row, which is excellent exercise, but they also admire beautifully constructed rowing boats. Besides watermanship, they also enjoy the aerobic exercise, the beautiful wooden boats and the party atmosphere that goes with them. Many of them also love Venice – particularly in May. They enjoy taking brief holidays rowing down beautiful rivers in England, France and other countries.
The club has two captains – one for rowing Venetian style – and the other for sitting down – in the English style. In both cases they encourage flexibility of side and skill – so that whoever turns up should get a row. City Barge sends crews of both types of crews to Venice and they participate in many other events participate in many other events.