Sir Steve Redgrave is set to preside over an eye-catching Henley Royal Regatta in his first year as Chairman of the Committee of Management of the Regatta.
For the first time since 1967, the Regatta will be broadcast live - an exciting project that Redgrave has inherited and developed from immediate past Chairman Mike Sweeney - alongside media industry executive Neil Chugani and his erstwhile rowing partner, Sir Matt Pinsent. All three are Stewards of the Regatta.
Every race will feature live across all five days from 1-5 July on YouTube, with daily highlights, and the BBC will cover the event on the Red Button and website on finals day.
The 176 year-old event has attracted a high-calibre entry with 526 crews from 18 countries which is 32 more than last year.
National crews from Great Britain, Germany, Canada, the US and Australia are likely to be amongst the headliners - including a potential clash between the German and GB men's eights who are Olympic and World Champions respectively - but Redgrave is also passionate about the club, college, University and junior crews for whom a Henley medal is so coveted.
I loved racing here. I loved the crowds and the gladiatorial style of racing. We certainly have some headline international racing to relish this year but I'm also pleased at the level of club, school, college and university entries, said Sir Steve Redgrave, the five-times Olympic Champion who was elected to the post of Chairman of the Committee of Management of the Regatta last year when Mike Sweeney stepped down after 22 years at the helm.
I think there could be a fascinating three-way battle between Eton College, St Paul's and Westminster Schools for the schoolboy eights title (The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup) for instance, and potentially another big tussle between Gloucester RC and Marlow RC for the junior women's quadruple sculls trophy (The Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup).
Nearly every organisation that won a trophy last year will be back in action again and that includes clubs like Upper Thames RC who had not won a trophy in their preceding 51 years of history until they won twice last year. Those kind of moments make an event like Henley very special.
Bumper crowds are expected to watch the action in soaring temperatures which could lead Redgrave to permit gentlemen to remove their jackets in the Stewards Enclosure. This has only happened three times in the last 39 years. For thousands of spectators the atmosphere, tradition and dress-style of an Edwardian garden-party all add to this great festival of sport.
The draw for tomorrow's opening day includes some crunch head-to-heads in what is one of the most gladiatorial theatres of rowing. Chief amongst these could be the clash for two of the nation's leading schoolboy eights from Abingdon School and St Paul's School.
A record number of 59 American crews have entered the Regatta which is 11 more than the previous record. A men's eight from Green Lake Crew will be the first USA crew in action, racing against London Club, Tideway Scullers School, in the Thames Challenge Cup for club eights.
Tomorrow's roster also includes crews from Australia, Norway, Germany and Canada as well as from Aberdeen to Exeter. Princeton University have drawn Massachusetts Institute of Technology in a big all-American clash in the Temple Challenge Cup for university eights.
Henley Royal Regatta will adjust its schedule to delay the planned 12 noon race on Friday so that rowers, spectators and all other Regatta personnel can observe the nationwide minute's silence called by the Prime Minister in respect of those who lost their lives in the recent events in Tunisia.
For live broadcast follow: YouTube or log on at www.hrr.co.uk or watch via the Red Button and BBC On-line on Sunday 5 July.