The Queen's Watermen

Until the middle of the nineteenth century the Sovereign regularly travelled on the river Thames, either on State occasions or between the Royal Palaces of Windsor, Westminster, Hampton Court, Greenwich and the Tower of London.

The men who rowed the Royal Barges up and down the river Thames were known as Royal Watermen. The Sovereign today still retains 24 Royal Watermen under the command of The Queen's Bargemaster, thereby continuing one of the most ancient appointments in the Royal Household. The original number of 48 was halved by King Edward VII.

There are no State Barges still afloat today. However, the Royal Nore, which is owned and maintained by the Port of London Authority, is the official motor launch used whenever a member of the Royal Family travels on the river Thames for an official engagement.

Royal Watermen are chosen from the ranks of the Thames Watermen whose business today is manning tugs, lighters and launches, therefore earning their employment on the River. Upon their appointment, each Waterman is given a Warrant of Appointment and paid a small honorary sum per year.

Their uniform is a skirted scarlet tunic with a silver gilt Royal Cypher (plastrum) on the front and back of the jacket, breeches, navy/black cap, scarlet stockings, white shirt and black buckled shoes.

The duties of the Royal Watermen are now purely ceremonial. On the water, the Watermen escort members of the Royal Family on board the Royal Nore on the river Thames, and visiting Heads of State who arrive in London on the river, such as The King and Queen of Norway on the Royal Yacht NORGE in 2005. The Royal Watermen participated in the Silver Jubilee river progress in 1977.

On-shore duties consist of acting as boxmen on Royal carriages during State Visits, Royal weddings and Jubilees, and walking behind The King or Queen's Bargemaster at Coronations. At the State Opening of Parliament, The Queen's Bargemaster and Watermen travel on the carriages guarding the regalia when it is conveyed from Buckingham Palace to Westminster and back as a reminder of the days when it was brought by boat from the Tower of London.

Pipe Masters could get green light Tuesday, WSL reminds people to watch from home

Pipe Masters could get green light Tuesday, WSL reminds people to watch from home: A high surf warning is in effect for most of the state’s north and west facing shores through Monday evening. Surf heights are expected to reach 30 feet on north-facing shores and 20-feet on west-f…

Sailing: America's Cup holders capsize in practice - report

 WELLINGTON (Reuters) - America's Cup holders Team New Zealand have flipped their first generation AC75 foiling monohull while training in heavy conditions, domestic media said.

Saturday's incident was the second time the team have flipped 'Te Aihe', as their yacht is named, during training.

The crew had been testing the boat's capabilities in weather and sea conditions beyond the upper limits set by America's Cup organisers for actual racing, Stuff Media, the country's largest newspaper chain, reported on Sunday.

The yacht suffered damage to part of the steering system and was righted by the team's support boats and then towed back to their base.

Last December, Team New Zealand had a slow-motion tip over in their initial trials with Te Aihe.

Challengers American Magic also tipped over their first generation boat while training on the Hauraki Gulf last month.

Teams are allowed to build two yachts for their campaign, with the first generation used for testing and fine tuning their second generation boats.

The challenger series runs from Jan. 15 to Feb. 22 next year before the America's Cup match against Team New Zealand begins on March 6.

Good start for Rolex Middle Sea Race >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News

Good start for Rolex Middle Sea Race >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News: Ta' Xbiex, Malta (October 17, 2020) - The 2020 Rolex Middle Sea Race got underway for the 50 boats registered to take on the 606 nm clockwise

Shaped: The Waterman, Dan Mann

In the almost 30 years since I first met Dan Mann, he has been a professional surfer, a lifeguard, a champion paddle boarder, and more and more these days, a world renown shaper…thanks to his recent collaboration with Kelly Slater.

John Weisbarth April 22, 2020

Watches, Wannabes and Waterman

Read with us, as Steve West explores and helps determine what a waterman really is and what some of his prerequisites might be. Do you think your a "Waterman"?

 

It’s a little known fact, the fast track way to achieve some vague semblance of waterman status, is to invest in a Rolex or Omega dive-timepiece. Indeed the number of waterman you might see on any given day in any metropolis far, far away from ocean shores, simply defies probability as to how these gentleman buyers find the time to work the hours required for the buy-in price and the time to hone their water skills and the number is growing daily.

Frankly, many look unsuited to their timepiece or certainly not what you may think represents the demographic of its namesake, but looks I guess can be deceiving. On the other hand, a Rolex goes hand in hand with luxury yacht ownership (indeed boating of any type) and monetary milestones, which can certainly preclude you from having to be able to swim. But in all seriousness, what’s it all about; men who can barely tread-water wearing beautiful time pieces that shout out, “I am Ocean-Man” or sentiments to that effect, or are they simply, James Bond wannabes.

One thing’s for sure, even the great Duke Kahanamoku would I am sure embraced the idea that swimming must first and foremost be a requirement for entry to waterman status, melded with a love of the ocean and for the creatures in it and that surfing per-se, is something you can choose or not choose to do on account of there being such an abundance of other water pursuits, skills and interests which by default would earn you waterman status in the same way as that of a horseman, mountain man or spaceman, of which the Polynesian voyagers where indeed of that same ilk. Read More;

So You Call Yourself A "Waterman"? Thrill Seekers & Risk Takers - The Movie Salty Crew

THRILL SEEKERS AND RISK TAKERS May 1, 2020
The unknown is shrinking, but it still exists. Introducing the latest Salty Crew movie.

Follow the crew in a search for their own frontier. As they surf, fish, and adventure along the way. Inspired by the thrill seekers and risk takers who have gone before them. The Salty Crew team passes through Alaska, British Columbia, Mainland Mexico, Western Australia, New Zealand, and back home to Southern California. Starring Matt Meola, Lucas Dirkse, Levi Slawson, Damien Hobgood, Duane Diego, Jerome Forrest, Nate Yeomans, and David Ochoa.