Henley-on-Todd Regatta

BUILD a bottomless 'BYO boat' (crew of 4) or USE supplied boats and run them down a dry riverbed.

Team entryUse local gear

21 Aug 2027Next date

None listedNext deadline / key date

AugustUsual timing

Todd River bed, Alice Springs, NT, AustraliaWhere

01 · How to take part

Your way in

Buy ticket, register online or on the day; organisers match solo people into teams.

Team entry

Bring your own bottomless boat

Build a 'BYO boat' that encloses a crew of 4 and resembles a boat, then run it down the dry riverbed.

Use local gear

Or run in a supplied boat

Buy an event ticket and register online or on the day; organisers match solo people into teams. An indemnity form is required.

You build or use: BUILD a bottomless 'BYO boat' (crew of 4) or USE supplied boats and run them down a dry riverbed
Participation: Build/Use (open)
Entry and deadlines: Indemnity form; BYO boat must enclose 4 crew and resemble a boat
Where: Todd River bed, Alice Springs, NT, Australia

02 · Dates

Dates and deadlines, Jan 2026 to Dec 2027

Usual timing: August. Dates are only shown where a source publishes them; everything else is marked TBC.

21 Aug 2027Henley-on-Todd Regatta 2027Snow Kenna Park, Alice Springs. · sourceTeam entry

Already passed this season: 15 Aug 2026: Henley-on-Todd Regatta 2026.

See it on the calendar →

03 · Skills you'll need

Skills you'll need

What to learn and practise before you go. Each resource is marked Official or Community-accepted and names its publisher. Difficulty and prep time are our estimate.

Core skill

Building a bottomless 'BYO boat' frame that fully encloses a crew of four

Also useful:

Running in step as a crew on soft sand
Light, safe construction (no sharp edges)

Difficulty our estimateBeginner (BYO boat: Some practice)

Prep time our estimate1–2 build weekends plus a few crew runs

Difficulty and prep time are Curiosta editorial estimates for a first-timer, not organiser figures.

Refresher

A BYO boat must fully enclose the four-person crew and must look like a boat; size, shape and construction are otherwise up to you.
Most teams build the frame from electrical conduit or plumbing pipe; keep it as light as practical.
No sharp edges: tape or cap all pipe ends and joints in case a crew member falls.
Practise running in step: agree a cadence caller and hold the frame at a common height.
You can also enter races with organiser-supplied boats, and solo entrants can be matched into teams.
Alice Springs in August: dry heat by day, cold mornings; hydrate and wear sun protection.

Practise before you go

Mock up the frame with PVC pipe and fittings and test-run it with your crew on sand or grass.
Do short sand-running intervals in a group of four.
Watch the official YouTube channel to see how BYO boats are carried.