Waves and thrills; the World Rowing Coastal Challenge

By Melissa Bray

Overcast, a little stormy, some good sized waves. All of the elements for perfect coastal rowing racing. Well, perhaps a little too stormy, a little too wavy, but this didn’t stop rowers from competing at the World Rowing Coastal Challenge in Guernsey, Channel Islands last weekend.

“It was extremely windy on Saturday for the British Coastal Championships,” said organiser Tim Prout, “but they died down to force 5 by Sunday for the World Rowing Coastal Challenge.”

Racing went ahead with the 12km men’s course and 8km women’s event adjusted to an inshore course to take advantage of coastline protection. Competitors followed the coastline with buoy turns creating an oblong course.

“Turning (around the buoys) is always exciting,” said Prout. “There were a couple of clashes but they were mainly caused by conditions. At the end of the day there were no protests.”

FISA’s coastal rowing challenge is based around standardised rowing boats and built for one, two and four (plus coxswain) rowers. They are all sculling boats and designed to withstand rough water conditions with mechanisms for bailing. The boats are built much along the lines of surf lifesaving boats but with a sliding seat. Traditional craft also raced at Guernsey including the Cornish gig and the fixed seat Celtic longboat.

Beginning with a mass start – yachting style – using a countdown system and a hooter, the men’s event had 40 boats leave the line together. A domination of Guernsey crews took out the top four spots in the fours with the fastest time going to Jo Paul, Neil Brennan, Paul Montague and Paul Isaccs. Their time of 53:50 put them five minutes faster than the number two boat. This four has been together now for two years and also have experience racing coastal rowing singles. In 2004 they won silver at the Coastal Rowing Challenge.

Competitors travelled from Great Britain, many European countries and as far away as the three person New Zealand team. Nina Reid (second in the women’s single), Alex Dawson and Greg Reid (fourth in the men’s pairs) were awarded the Greatest Achievement Award for their effort required just to get to the start line.

“They were so enthusiastic,” said Prout. “They brought their own boats all the way from New Zealand. It’s a fantastic achievement.”

Next year the World Rowing Coastal Challenge will become a championship event and FISA’s events commission chairman, Mike Tanner commented that the Guernsey event presented a great model for next year when coastal rowing becomes a championship event.

“Having seen this (event) for the first time, I’m impressed,” said Tanner. “It brings together the many different types of coastal rowing in one event but still allows people to go back to their own types of boats.”

In 2007 coastal rowing will return to one of the leading coastal rowing nations when Cannes, France hosts the World Rowing Coastal Championships next October.

For a full list of results go to: http://www.guernseyrowingclub.org.gg/

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