07 Dec 2011
Clubs compete for world coastal title
The first World Rowing Coastal Championships for Clubs began today in the Gulf of Mandelieu La Napoule, near Cannes, on the French Riviera. The novelty of the event meant the 600 rowers from 16 nations are mostly racing against a new competition. Tomorrow's medallists will become new names on the scene of World Rowing and will have set new references in coastal rowing.
Three boat classes (the men's solo, double and coxed four) raced their heats in beautiful weather conditions, with small waves adding to the thrill of rowing over the 8km triangular course. All hoped to qualify for tomorrow's A Finals.
The men's solo (the coastal rowing equivalent of the single scull) today seemed largely dominated by Sweden. Paul Rosenguist of club Stockholm Roddforening largely dominated the first heat, finishing in a total of 42 minutes and 18 seconds – two minutes and twenty-two seconds ahead of former international rower Jean-Jacques Gauthier of France. In the second heat it was once again a Swede, Peter Berg of club Helsinborgs Roddklubb, who finished one minute ahead of nearest competitor, Frenchman Denis Vogt of club Aviron Toulonnais. Twenty boats will compete in tomorrow's A Final.
A large winning margin was also observed in the first heat of the men's double. Hungarians Haller and Erdelyi of club Szegedi Vizisport Egyesulet rowed the course in 35 minutes and 37 seconds, and French coastal champions Romain Cretient and Xavier Verbeke of club Fontainebleau-Avon, who finished in second place, will certain aim to make up for their slower finish in Saturday's A Final, which will include twenty boats.
In the coxed four, crews can choose to either sweep or scull, but sculling crews have proven to be the faster ones. Heat 1 saw the victory of the French rowing club from Saint-Malo in 34 minutes, and Heat 2 that of the Italians from Trieste in 35 minutes. Thirty crews will fight for a medal in tomorrow's A Final.
Tomorrow's racing will continue with women's straight finals and men's A and B Finals.