Thames A Raters

 The Thames A-Rater is a legendary class of sailing dinghy that has graced the River Thames for over a century. With their long, narrow hulls and sky-scraping rigs (often 40–45 feet tall), these boats were purpose-built to excel in the sheltered, winding reaches of the upper Thames. Since their inception in the late 19th century, A-Raters have continually evolved – from wooden “skimming dishes” to modern carbon-fibre craft – while retaining an aura of elegance and an unrivalled turn of speed on inland waters.

There are about 20 Raters left today. Some are still sailing, some are being restored by enthusiasts who want to see these magnificent boats last on. The oldest boats were built of wood in 1898. In the late 1960s, some fibreglass replicas were made from the moulds of some of the original surviving boats.

These boats regularly race against one another at the Thames Sailing Club in Kingston and at the Upper Thames Sailing Club at Bourne End near Marlow.