The who and how of the World Rowing Coastal Championships

Competitors from 30 nations are taking part with over 600 rowers racing across the six boat classes. The men’s double sculls has the most entries as 68 crews followed by the men’s solo with 66 entries. Due to their numbers, both of these boat classes will compete in qualification races on Thursday 12 October. Then all boats will have heats on 13 October with finals on 14 October.

During the competition all race results, news updates and photographs can be found on the World Rowing website. There will also be updates through World Rowing social media channels including: https://www.facebook.com/worldrowingcoastal/

Live streaming of A-finals here. 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WorldRowing

Follow the conversation: #WRCChamps, #coastals

Who to Watch

In the men’s double (CM2x) last year’s bronze medallist from Monaco, Quentin Antognelli will be racing, this time with a new partner. Strong competition is likely to come from Spain and Italy who have a number of clubs entered. For the women’s double (CW2x), reigning champion Beatrice Millo of Italy is back with a new partner, Bianca Pelloni. Millo will be up against Diane Delalleau and Nathalie Collet of France who won silver together last year. Bronze medallist from 2016 Khadija Krimi of Tunisia has also returned but with a new partner.

All three medallists from 2016 have returned for the men’s solo (CM1x). Spain’s Adrian Miramon Quiroga will try to defend his gold medal title with Eduardo Linares of Peru and Dennis Gustavsson of Sweden both hoping to be back on the winner’s podium.  Two of the women’s solo (CW1x) medallists will be racing in Thonon. Gold medallist Monica Dukarska of Ireland will be out to defend her World Champion title and France’s Edwig Alfred, who took bronze last year, is racing again.

In the women’s coxed quadruple sculls (CW4x+), France took gold in 2016. They have entered eight crews and their strong coastal rowing tradition is likely to put them in good stead to be on the medals podium. Russia and Spain took the lesser medals last year and they are back to test the waters of Thonon. The Czech Republic are back to defend their title in the men’s coxed quadruple sculls (CM4x+). They return with rowers that may be more used to flat water rowing but are undaunted when it comes to waves. The Italians took silver and bronze last year and with seven crews entered at Thonon, they are likely to medal again.