Issue 102 - October 1997

Museum collections take impressive shape

The River and Rowing Museum at Henley-on-Thames, due to open to the public next summer, is on target to house the single most unique rowing collection anywhere in the world. Among the exhibits expected to arrive this autumn is Luigi Colani's titanium-framed eight, custom built for the German Olympic crew of 1972 and currently en route from Switzerland.

Other acquisitions for the Rowing Gallery include the Carbon Tiger, the first eight built without wood. It was developed for Britain's 1976 Olympic crew although not used in the Olympic regatta. The museum also has the prototype sliding rigger single made by Empacher.

The Rowing Gallery, covering 350 square metres, will trace the history of rowing through the display of many of the boats which have contributed to the technical development and history of the sport of rowing. The movers and shakers behind the boats will be remembered and their achievements celebrated in the Rowing Hall of Fame. In the run up to the Sydney Olympics, the museum has invited rowers and crews to keep training diaries.

Prototypes of Dreissigacker blades using composite materials to allow greater versatility in construction methods will be on display.

Visitors will also have access to an unrivalled collection of rowing literature, including periodicals and coaching magazines donated by the Amateur Rowing Association.

© Copyright Regatta Magazine, 1997.