A new University College rowing boat has been named in honour of one the College’s most notable alumni: Guillaume V, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
The newly named ‘Grand Duke of Luxembourg’ is a reverse winged, carbon fibre double/pair, meaning it is rowed by two people.
Purchased by the University College Boat Club (UCBC) during the summer, it was officially given its new name in a ceremony led by His Excellency Georges Friden, Ambassador of the Grandy Duchy of Luxembourg to the UK.
Also named was another double/pair boat: Cardinal Sin, continuing a tradition under which UCBC has had a boat by that name since the end of the 20th Century.
The boats were purchased with support from club members, the Junior Common Room at University College, and alumni, including Floreat Castellum Boat Club.
UCBC has ten competitive rowing boats, and more than 60 active student rowers.
The addition of the new boats adds to the outstanding rowing infrastructure available to our students, which includes one of the UK’s only indoor university rowing tanks, coaching staff to support all abilities – beginner to international, and access to high-performance training programmes.
Several of our students have gone on to compete in rowing at Olympic level.
Mack Jenkins, President of UCBC, thanked everyone involved in the purchase of the two boats for their support. UCBC rowers are now preparing for events in Durham, York, and Rurtherford before the end of the year, and the showpiece Head of the River Race, in London, in March.
Guillaume V became Grand Duke of Luxembourg in October 2025, succeeding his father. He studied Social Sciences (Combined) at University College, graduating in 2002.
- Find out more about sport at Durham.- Explore University College.- Interested in studying with us? Explore our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. - Are you a Durham graduate? Connect with your alumni community.
Photo (left to right): University College Boat Club President Mack Jenkins, University College Principal Professor Wendy Powers, and His Excellency Georges Friden, Ambassador of the Grandy Duchy of Luxembourg to the UK.
Rev Dr Sam Hole, Chaplain to University College, blesses the new boats.
His Excellency Georges Friden, Ambassador of the Grandy Duchy of Luxembourg to the UK (centre), with University College Boat Club President Mack Jenkins (second right), and past Club Presidents Aidan Dike-Lawlor (left), Robert Almqvist (second left), and Oscar Gray (right).
His Excellency Georges Friden, Ambassador of the Grandy Duchy of Luxembourg to the UK, visits University College, with Boat Club President Mack Jenkins.
University College's two new rowing boats.
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/central-news-and-events-images/83431-1920X290.jpg)