The 2026 World Rowing Coastal Championships got underway in Qingdao, China, on Sunday with the heats of three events. While crews were eliminated in the coastal women’s solos, the heats of the women’s coxed quadruple sculls and men’s double sculls gave an indication of who might triumph in Tuesday’s finals.

Cavallo and Chiavini in pole position in women’s solos

Ahead of racing Christine Cavallo of the USA told World Rowing that a fast start was key to coastal endurance racing – and she put that into practice in heat 1 of the coastal women’s solo, taking a lead of almost six seconds over Tiia-Maria Rauttola (FIN02) by the first turning buoy at 1000m. From there, Cavallo could pick her course and look back on the field. Ilaria Bavazzano (ITA01) moved into second by halfway. At the back of the field, Tiia Ronkainen (FIN04) and Alana Noble (USA05) were off the pace early on and could never close the gap to a qualifying spot.

In heat 2, later on, Eeva Karppinen (FIN01), was first to 1000m but Gaia Chiavini (MON01) had a superb second 1000m to move through the 2024 bronze medallist. The two boats remained locked together for the rest of the race, with the higher-rating Chiavini taking the win less than five seconds ahead of Karppinen. Ma Bingbing (CHN02) was third. Anni Keisanen (FIN03) missed out on the final after fading in the second half of the race.

Peru claim win in women’s quads

Six boats lined up for the heat of the coastal women’s coxed quadruple sculls. While China were the quickest to get going, it was the Peruvian crew representing Club de Regatas “Lima” who found the fastest boat speed and they had a very slight advantage around the first buoy. With a high rating the Peruvians were able to push off the rest of the field and take the win over China by about 10 seconds. USA02 took third, pushed hard into the finish by Great Britain – three of the British crew doubling up in the women’s solo.

Rogers and Bak out in front in men’s doubles

2023 world champions Kory Rogers and Chris Bak (USA01) have had little time in a boat together recently but got off to a good start in the coastal men’s double sculls and were never really troubled. Twins Alexis and Aymeric Fortier (FRA02) rounded the first buoy slightly ahead of Daniele and Gabriele Lonconsole (ITA01), but were able to open up that gap in the second 1000m to claim second behind the USA. The Lonconsoles took third on the finish line, with Kerrian Boulay and Clement Thomas (FRA01) fourth. European champions Kealan Mannix and Ronan Byrne (IRL01) had a good middle 2000m to close up on Boulay and Thomas, but were not able to further narrow the gap in the finishing straight. Team Sichuan, Peiyunxiang Huang and Wang Wenhu (CHN02) were sixth, just behind the Irish.

2026 World Rowing Coastal Championships off to flying start

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