Royal Thames Yacht Club 250th Anniversary River Pageant - Preview
by Robin Tott 21 Jun 14:36 BST
28 June 2025
Royal Thames Yacht Club 250th Anniversary Regatta © Paul Wyeth /
www.pwpictures.com
The Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC), will continue its 250th Anniversary celebrations this month with a maritime celebration on the River Thames.
On Saturday 28th June, a flotilla of 26 RTYC vessels will form a ceremonial procession through central London, concluding at St Katharine Docks. Beginning at West India Dock, the 'Thames River Pageant' will see the fleet proceed upstream to Tower Bridge, where they will salute HMS President.
The following six notable vessels, owned by RTYC members, will transit under Tower Bridge: Viveka a beautifully restored twin masted yacht built in 1929, Gladiator a modern carbon TP52 racing yacht, Gipsy Moth IV the fastest yacht at the time to race around the world by Sir Francis Chichester, Tahilla involved in the Dunkirk rescue during the Second world war, Dama de Noche, a modern 82 foot Oyster yacht and Oui Fling, a beautiful wooden yacht. These vessels will parade through the Upper Pool of London, toward London Bridge, before rejoining the remainder of the flotilla entering St Katharine Docks.
The event will conclude with the pageant's flagship, the 129 year-old, 36-metre gaff ketch 'Cariad', making a grand locking-in to the basin. The pageant will be witnessed by over XX RTYC members, some of which will be aboard a private Uber Boat, offering a viewing on the Thames. A number of invited guests, including former and current Flag Officers, will be hosted aboard HMS President, providing a fantastic viewpoint for the salute and bridge transit.
This milestone pageant promises to be one of the most visually impressive maritime events in London this summer