One step closer to finals at 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Championships

Day three of racing at the 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Championships had the men’s pair and women’s quadruple sculls move through the semifinals. This decided who would make the final due to be raced on Saturday 10 July. A tail wind breeze made for some lively water at the Racice regatta course in the Czech Republic and also some fast times.

Men’s Pair (BM2-) – Semifinals

Semifinal 1 got away quickly with Croatia having the best pace rating 42 strokes per minute. The crews were close at the start and then France began to pull away keeping at 41 strokes per minute. But all eyes were on Croatia and Great Britain who won their respective heats two days ago. Then Great Britain’s Calvin Tarczy and Douwe de Graaf then moved into the lead despite having a lower stroke rate than their competitors. Both Tarczy and de Graaf row for Harvard University (USA). At the half way point the British still had the lead with Croatia and Romania going head-to-head for second. Romania has had an extra race as they came through to this race from the repechage. Romania was rating 41 to try and get ahead of Croatia. Great Britain crossed the line with the fastest qualifying time of 6:24.96.

In Semifinal 2 had Lithuania taking an early lead with Greece following in second. But there was very little in it with Germany also right on the pace. Twins Domantas and Dovydas Stankunas from Lithuania raced in the four at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in May and in April at the European Rowing Championships. Now Turkey was gaining and had moved into second and closed on the Stankunas brothers. Turkey had a very good time in their heats and they continued to gain on Lithuania. Kaan and Aydin Sahin of Turkey raced at World Rowing Cup I and finished sixth. Lithuania did a push to get themselves away from Turkey and crossed the line in first. The high rating Greeks came through in third.

Qualifiers: GBR, ROU, CRO, LTU, TUR, GRE

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (BW4x) – Semifinal

Germany and Italy qualified for this Semifinal 1 with almost identical times and they sat next to each other at the start. Both crews got away quickly with Romania and Poland holding on to the pace of the two leading boats. Italy got to the 500m mark just ahead of Germany. But the Germans pushed back at 36 strokes per minute to get the lead. Italy held on also rating 36 strokes per minute. Poland then attacked and moved up on Italy. They went through the 1000m mark at almost the same time as Germany began to pull away and at the half way point they were at a time close to the under-23 World Best Time. Romania then overtook Italy and moved up on Poland and the Germans. With Germany in front, Poland, Romania and Italy fought it out for the remaining two spots. Poland had missed out by half a second.

Semifinal 2 had Switzerland and Russia sitting in the middle lanes and at the start it was these two crews who were in front. Switzerland had the fastest time from the heats, but today Russia had the best start. Fighting it out for third was the United States and Czech Republic. The Czechs raced at World Rowing Cup III finishing in the b-final. The Czechs were now shaking off the United States as Russia stayed just a fraction ahead of Switzerland. Both Russia and Switzerland were rating 36 strokes per minute. Then the Swiss did a push and their bow ball moved ahead of Russia’s. With 500m left to go Switzerland had the lead and it looked like Russia had no answer. Switzerland was moving away from Russia with the Czechs remaining in third. The order did not change through to the line. Switzerland had the fastest qualifying time.

Qualifiers: GER, ITA, ROU, SUI, RUS, CZE