Handicapping Lines at Durham

Location: Durham

There are a series of white lines painted on the concrete wall on the Pelaw Wood side of the river Wear at Durham, just about where the current Regatta Start is located. These were painted many decades ago and have mostly worn away but their purpose was to distance boats from each other that were involved in handicap races; a ready reckoner for setting boats so many lengths apart. This was mostly for professional races and have long since fallen into disuse since the days of professional rowers ended.