Cover Image © Igor Meijer / World Rowing
With the conventional rowing format being notoriously unappealing to lay spectators, the introduction of coastal rowing is one of several changes to the sport being considered by both World Rowing and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
To begin with, though, what exactly is coastal rowing? This may seem trivial, but for us “normal” rowers, coastal rowing is something we sometimes hear about. Yet, beyond its apparent similarities and differences from river rowing, we don’t truly understand its intricacies. Coastal rowing still involves a sliding seat, oars, the possibility of several different crew types; even the boats themselves do bear some resemblance of the more well-known river rowing hull. The main differences are the conditions and the format of the racing.
As a result of rowing on the sea, the conditions can be very rough, which requires a more flexible technique. In river rowing, we are taught that every stroke should be the same, whereas, in coastal rowing, a rower must take into account the conditions at that particular moment. As the boats will be less stable, despite the wider hull, rowers need to seek stability to maximise connection to the water and application of power.
There are two variations on coastal rowing that have been adopted by World Rowing. In coastal rowing, up to 16 crews may compete in any one race, which will be over 4000m for heats and 6000m for finals. Crews must line up behind the start line until the start buzzer, so a well-timed crew may be able to go through the start line at pace. The course consists of several straights with turns around buoys requiring highly technical boat moving with collisions providing entertainment for spectators. In beach sprints, crews race head-to-head to a buoy 300m away, where they must turn around, and row back to shore. One rower must start and finish a set distance up the beach, meaning races begin and end with a sprint, hence the name.
Coastal rowing is gaining more and more exposure, largely thanks to its inclusion and promotion by World Rowing, who are set to host their 2021 World Rowing Coastal Championships and Beach Sprints Finals in Portugal, and the 2022 events in Wales. Having expanded in recent years, these events now generate a genuine boost to a host’s economy, with over a thousand competitors travelling to compete. For the 2022 events, the former Chief Operating Officer of Wasps Rugby, Jeremy Wilton, has been appointed as Chair of the Steering Group responsible for the organisation of both the Beach Sprints and Coastal Championships. In a press release from British Rowing, Wilton said, “This format of rowing is fast developing and with the profile of these World Rowing Coastal Championships and Beach Sprint Finals, I’m hoping we can bring greater diversity to the sport. It’s going to be an exciting couple of years bringing the Championships to fruition and with the support of the local community in Saundersfoot, deliver a world-class event”.
These developments all come in anticipation of World Rowing and the IOC announcing the inclusion of coastal rowing in the Paris 2024 Games. The aim of this would be to improve the watch-ability of rowing on the whole, as shorter and more unpredictable races tend to be more popular with spectators. Rowing is being included in the next Youth Olympic Games in 2022, Senegal, with the beach sprints format being adopted on this occasion to fit in with the overall style of the YOG.
The IOC Executive Board is expected to announce its decision on World Rowing’s proposed introduction of coastal rowing after it meets this December. Fingers crossed the proposal is accepted, and coastal rowing is included in the Games, allowing rowing to become more varied and opening it up to both spectators and competitors.
You can find more on Coastal Rowing in our Hidden Oars Series here
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