Touring by boat through Bavaria

The Tour attracted 66 participants from 12 nations including Australians and Canadians as well as rowers from across Europe.

For touring regular Jens Kolberg the highlight was the ability to experience rowing on the Danube with the surrounding nature and its cultural heritage. “Passing through the gorge at Weltenburg and later the city of Regensburg was great, as well as the early morning row in mist and sunshine under the monument to German culture, Walhalla, which is close to Regensburg,” says Kolberg.

The Tour used church boats (14 rowers and one coxswain) and touring boats (quad sculls with four rowers and one coxswain) and the boats were organised so that each one had an experienced captain from Germany and coxswain that knew the area, which was prone to a fast water flow and heavy commercial traffic.

The weather was mostly fair with a bit of rain and moderate temperatures. “No complaints,” says Kolberg.

This was Kolberg’s 21st Tour. He was first tempted into touring in 1988 in Cognac. “An invitation I could not resist!” says Kolberg, whose touring memories include meeting his Danish wife on the Istanbul tour in 1991. Kolberg has been part of FISA’s Rowing For All Commission since 2000 and as part of the commission he has helped find people to organise tours in different countries.  After 15 years, and turning 65, Kolberg is stepping down from his role.  

Ruth Marr joined this Tour, her third tour, from Canada and she says one of the highlights was the wildlife. Marr describes, “Beautiful swans flying through the morning mist near the end of the trip.  The scenery offered some delights, such as our first glimpse of Valhalla high on the hill above the river, and seeing Weltenburg Abbey appear around the bend of the gorge. But,” adds Marr, “the best parts of tour rowing are the people and rowing with both new and old friends.  Enjoying our favourite sport in a lovely setting and experiencing the local culture is also a reason that I enjoy these tours so much.”

Marr says it was the first time for her in church boats, which meant being able to take as much luggage as you wished and also being able to stand up in the boat. “It was also quite different to row on the square all the time.”

Each day the crews were mixed up in new combinations. “The captain of the boat would select the two strokes and two bow positions and generally we tried to match up with someone of similar size in the rest of the five seats,” says Marr.

The World Rowing Tour is an annual event, the dates and location for the 2015 event will be announced soon.