Guernsey to host Coastal Rowing Challenge

Shoreline throughout the world beckons rowers who enjoy the rougher sea-going variety of rowing and in the growing sport of coastal rowing Guernsey, the Channel Islands, has taken up the task of hosting the FISA coastal rowing challenge for 2006.

Taking place over 2 ? 3 September the challenge will be joined by the inaugural British coastal championships and is expected to be the largest such event ever for the Channel Islands with more than 500 rowers and officials expected from around the world.

Local organiser, Tim Prout says that he has already had interest from England, Wales and Ireland with entries also expected from France and Italy. At the event competitors will race along the shoreline with men covering a 12km distance and women racing over an eight km course.

The boats used are specially designed to withstand the rougher conditions of the sea with their design looking much like the wider surf lifesaving boats but with a sliding seat.

Currently coastal rowing is growing throughout Europe while in Great Britain most sea rowing is still the ?traditional? fixed seat variety. France has been at the forefront of developing the sliding seat for sea going boats and has been the predominant host of the challenge.

The Coastal Rowing Challenge is one step in a build-up towards the first FISA Coastal Rowing World Championships event planned for 2007.

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