The race's chair, Rass Randall, calls it a "fantastic spectacle", adding: "It brings together our heritage - racing as traditional London watermen would have done when they were the 'London taxis' - with modern day clubs and rowers, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world."

Spectators lined bridges and banks to watch as the boats covered the 21.6-mile course along the River Thames from Millwall to Richmond.

Sea Scouts - says his crew have been taking part in the Great River Race almost since it was founded. "We primarily row it in what are called Home Counties’ Gigs which is a 20ft long fibreglass and wood boat - most of ours date back to the 1960s,