Daily digest: Big boats take to the Bosbaan on day two

Tuesday’s compressed programme at the 2026 World Rowing Championships produced a day of close racing, with tight margins and sprint finishes deciding progression to the next rounds.

Para-rowing events get underway

All three of last year’s PR2 mixed double sculls medallists – China, Germany and Israel – made it safely through the heats to book direct spots in the final. Germany posted the quickest time of the six finalists.

In the PR3 mixed coxed four, Great Britain’s 15-year unbeaten streak continued with a heat win – but the USA were slightly quicker winning heat 1. Australia and Italy both challenged the leaders hard to halfway.

Fours pave the way for semifinals

Three crews set the standard in the women’s four heats – Australia, the USA and the Netherlands were clearly the fastest boats in the three heats and put themselves into pole position ahead of the semifinals. In the men’s fours, defending champions Great Britain looked good winning their heat but ended the day as the sixth-fastest crew, with the USA on top after a close heat 2 and the Netherlands and Germany second and third on time.

Italy bounce back, Dutch fastest in women’s quads

After failing to make the final at the 2026 European Rowing Championships, Italy have bounced back for Amsterdam in the men’s quadruple sculls. The defending champions held off a determined effort from China to win their heat and post the fastest time through to the semifinals. Germany, Croatia and the USA were the other heat winners.

In the women’s quadruple sculls the top three crews were tightly packed together on time. The Netherlands were comfortably the quickest crew in their heat and narrowly in the event, posting 6:51.34. European champions Switzerland won heat 2 in 6:51.55, just 0.05 seconds ahead of the USA. Great Britain were the other heat winners.

Lightweight doubles prepare for finals

Under-23 world champions Germany could well add the senior title to their trophy cabinet in the lightweight men’s double sculls, emerging as the fastest crew from the two heats – some five seconds ahead of Brazil. Uzbekistan, who have been on form this year, won heat 1. Meanwhile Tunisia took the win in the preliminary race in the lightweight women’s double sculls, as they hope to improve on last year’s historic silver medal in Shanghai.

Sprint finishes secure quarterfinal spots

Italy and Portugal both finished strongly in their men’s double sculls quarterfinals to claim the all-important third place and deny China and France, respectively, a place in the next round. China were the 10th-fastest crew in the quarterfinals, but will now contest final C after finding themselves in one of the closer races. Czechia posted the fastest time, just 0.21 seconds ahead of Dutch double Melvin Twellaar and Simon van Dorp. Meanwhile 2014 champions Croatia, who were fastest in the heats, qualified as the slowest crew through to the semifinals by finishing third behind Serbia and Belgium in their quarterfinal. Can the Sinkovic brothers produce in tomorrow’s semifinal?