Chilean Rowing Expands

Valparaiso, Chile receives new boats
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Valparaiso, Chile was known as the ?cradle of Chilean sport? and, as the marine capital, there has always been a natural affinity to nautical sports. The tradition of rowing stretches back to 1892 and it is about to enter a new era of rowing with the arrival of 10 boats from Hamburg.

Through assistance from the Chilean-German Institution of Welfare, Chile is the recipient of a container full of boats including six singles and four doubles that will help form the basis of a new club ? The Valparaiso German Rowing Club.

The boats originated in Germany from the Ruderclub Schwedt and possess a history in themselves having been used during Ruderclub Schwedt’s East German times. Club member Mr. Alex Reiche organized the transport of the skiffs to Hamburg complete with rowing erg and boat trailer. The container has since arrived in Valparaiso where they are awaiting customs clearance.

Valparaiso rowing has a colourful history growing throughout the early 1900s into the Association of Regatta Clubs of Valparaiso. The popularity continued until 1985 when a serious earthquake caused the Governor to declare, ?all water sport activities are hereby suspended?. Economic growth and subsequent commercial harbour expansion further closed access to rowing areas and in 1986 the boathouse was demolished. 

In 2001 a project to restart rowing began and the sport was added to the German School in Valparaiso as an extracurricular activity.

Miguel Cerda
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Rowing in Chile has always been strong in the Valdivia area, about 500 miles south of Valparaiso, and the country boasts two current World Champions. Christian Yantani and Miguel Cerda won the lightweight men’s pair in 2002 and at the same time not only gave Chile it’s first ever rowing gold but set a new world record. The pair have been competing together since 1998 and train in Valdivia.

Christian Yantani
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Cerda and Yantani have moved their focus in 2003 to the Olympic-class boat, the lightweight men’s four, in the hope of qualifying for Athens next year. In their debut international outing this year as a four they won the B-final at the first World Cup last month, beating Great Britain in the process and setting the Chileans up for a potential qualifying position.

The new club in Valparaiso will add depth to Chile’s advancing rowing scene that is beginning to be noticed on the international stage. In the 2000 Olympics the lightweight men’s four did not advance out of the repechage, but recent results look like the four are moving the country towards further rowing success.