Credit: AllMarkOne
A Visitor’s View: Redwood Quad’s Impression of Henley
In 2025, Henley Royal Regatta welcomed close to 200 overseas entries. For many of these crews, this marked the first time competing at the Regatta or witnessing its famous quirks and traditions. We were fortunate to catch up with US-based crew Redwood Scullers, comprised of Luisa Bachmann (stroke), Célia Dupré, Iris Klok and Esther Briz Zamorano (bow). Following their 4th July race, they gave us their impression of Henley Royal Regatta.
While for two in the quad this was not the first time racing at Henley Royal Regatta, Célia and Iris have had a whirlwind introduction to the Regatta. “I didn't expect the entire town to be so fully immersed in this event” explained Célia, while for Esther, it was the unique course conditions and river traffic that took her by surprise, “I honestly did not expect the water to be like that, boats everywhere just floating along happily”.
Comparing the Regatta with their experience of international racing, the crew noted that “when you are at the Olympics, it’s just head in and when you get off the water, you are just straight into recovery, whereas here there’s all these people here, an atmosphere and the culture”, which the crew are keen to immerse themselves in.
Coach Maegan Neihart, assistant coach to Stanford’s Women’s programme, enthused over the opportunity to unite an all-Stanford crew for the Regatta. Having only arrived on Monday afternoon, preparations have been short but detailed: “We’ve borrowed a boat so we’ve been getting all the equipment set up and refined as we’ve gone on”. Trusting the undeniable expertise of her crew, Neihart explained that preparations have instead focused on “adapting to each other and the environment”. The crew reiterated this: “If we get all of our heads in the same direction, this boat moves really quickly”.
Astute to the fine-tuned nature of this racing approach, the crew revealed that it is Henley’s crowds, and capacity to enter a composite crew, that has brought a novel element to their racing. Neihart described having spectators lining the banks as "exhilarating", a feeling the crew used to their advantage in their first race: “we did a good job as a crew to use that momentum to push forwards”. Luisa added that “Henley enables a different kind of racing. This crew would never be able to race at a world cup or world championship together - for me that makes it very special”. What other competition would enable four friends of four different nationalities to come together to race at the top level.
In charge of steering, it is Esther’s first time at Henley Royal Regatta. Her crewmates commended her courage, “taking the toe and absolutely crushing it”. Esther graduated from Stanford three years ago, but it is the love for and faith in the programme and its people that has fuelled her desire to return to racing for the Cardinal. Discussing Stanford rowing, Luisa agreed with Esther, saying: “It has been the privilege of a lifetime. I came from a very small club in Germany, and I’ve surrounded myself with 45 women, some of them the best U23’s. I have made so much progress as a rower and an athlete surrounding myself with people who are younger than me. It's been a huge privilege and has changed my trajectory as an athlete”. The women shared this sentiment, stating that rowing for Stanford is “not a four year decision, it’s a lifetime decision!”
All members of the crew are well-versed in both sweep and sculling, making transition into the Quad straightforward. Other transitions are in order for Esther, who has a place at Oxford University this September. With the Blue Boat as the goal, Esther, who, happy to not be in line to steer the Tideway, told us that “it sounds like a really cool race, a new team, and it will be cool to be around a group of really motivated girls”.
Célia has relished the opportunity of rowing at Henley Royal Regatta to raise the profile of rowing through her well-followed social media platforms. “I was a little disappointed that rowing didn’t get the attention it deserves, especially given the amount of work rowers put into it”. Discussing her growing media presence, she told us: “I started getting comments and messages from parents and young women who were inspired by what I was talking about. It’s not a sport that has a lot of information out there, it’s quite secretive and I feel like Henley is such an amazing and prestigious place and it is one of those amazing races that people want to follow”.
Between social media stardom, Blue Boat aspirations and Olympic success, this Stanford crew are a standout boat with a standout track record. Rowing at Henley Royal Regatta has ticked off a bucket list hope for the women, who, electrified by Henley, advanced to the semi-finals of The Princess Grace Challenge Cup, before ultimately coming up short against Hollandia Rowing Club (Netherlands).
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