What Are Skiffing and Punting at Dittons Skiff and Punting Club?

Skiffing and punting are two traditional Thames river sports offered by Dittons Skiff and Punting Club in Thames Ditton. Skiffing uses hand-crafted wooden rowing boats (singles or doubles) steered by a cox and propelled with oars; punting uses flat-bottomed, square-ended craft moved by pushing a pole against the river bed. Both can be done socially or competitively at regattas, and both are open to a range of ages and abilities.

Skiffing: traditional wooden rowing boats

Skiffs at Dittons are hand-crafted traditional wooden sculling (rowing) boats. They are built either as singles or doubles and are steered by a cox.

• How you move: with oars, rowing or sculling.
• Boat types: single or double skiffs, plus a cox to steer.
• What it suits: social skiffing, longer distance trips, and racing at regattas through the summer.
• Who it suits: the club describes it as sociable and low cost, suited to all ages and abilities.

If you are new to it, the club frames skiffing as a way to "come along and learn to row in a skiff" — so beginners are expected, not just experienced rowers.

Punting: pole, river bed, balance

Punting is described as a traditional Thames summer sport supported by the club. Dittons racing punts are flat-bottomed, square-ended craft.

• How you move: a pole is pushed against the river bed to propel the boat.
• Formats: raced as both singles and doubles.
• What it demands: the club calls it "a challenging combination of skiers' balance with velodrome competition and tactics."
• Spectator appeal: punts are, in the club's words, enormous fun both to race and to watch.

The key mechanical difference from skiffing: no oars and no cox — the punter stands and poles, so balance and tactics matter as much as strength.

Skiffing vs punting at a glance

Can beginners and children take part?

Yes. The club welcomes new members of all ages and runs a junior section every Sunday morning from 9.45 am.

• Juniors: children from age 10 upwards are welcome.
• What juniors learn: taught in traditional Thames skiffs (rowing boats), plus the skills to cox (steer) a boat and build river safety knowledge.
• Summer option: over the summer months, river conditions permitting, punting is offered as an option for juniors on Sunday mornings.
• Adults: a "Learn to Row" course is advertised (Sunday 9th Aug), with enquiries made through the website.

Social and competitive sides

The club is run by members for members and sits in a riverside setting at Thames Ditton. Beyond the water, members have access to a gym with rowing machines (ergos), a multi gym and free weights, plus a club house with its own bar, a kitchen suitable for mass catering, a large club room, and a balcony with a river view. There is a busy social calendar through the year, and the club house is available for private use by members.

On the competitive side, members race against other local skiff and punting clubs at regattas throughout the season. The Dittons Club Regatta is listed for Saturday 19th September — see the club's Events page for details.

How to get started

The club's own route in is simple: "Interested in trying? Come and see what we have to offer." If you want to move forward:

1. Get in touch through the website to ask about trying skiffing or punting.
2. For the Learn to Row course, enquire through the website.
3. For juniors, turn up to the Sunday morning session from 9.45 am — children aged 10+ are welcome.

Note that the club's published material does not state membership fees, session prices, or whether any trial session is free, so confirm costs and any joining requirements directly with the club rather than assuming.