The 2025 World Rowing Masters Regatta officially began yesterday on the historic waters of Lake Banyoles, Spain, marking the start of five days of exciting competition and community celebration.

The event this year is seeing 749 clubs having joined the event in Catalonia, which represents around 3500 athletes from 55 countries competing on the lake that hosted the 1992 Olympic Games regatta, and most recently, the 2009 World Rowing Cup I.

Opening Ceremony at the 2025 World Rowing Masters Regatta, Banyoles, Spain / Detlev Seyb/MyRowingPhoto.com

The day opened with a press conference featuring Miquel Noguer, Mayor of Banyoles, and Ron Chen, Chair of the World Rowing Masters Commission, who welcomed the international masters rowing community to the city and set the stage for an eventful regatta.

Racing got underway at 12:00 noon CET, with a packed schedule of 105 races. With races running every three minutes, the atmosphere on the lake was non-stop action, bringing together an extraordinary mix of participants, from Olympic champions to first-time masters rowers experiencing the event for the very first time.

The first day concluded with the opening ceremony in the boat park, where athletes and supporters gathered to hear official welcomes from the local authorities. Participants were also treated to a glimpse of Catalan culture and traditions, adding a unique regional flavour to the festivities and highlighting the warm hospitality of Banyoles.

With a record level of participation and hundreds of races still to come, the Regatta promises an unforgettable celebration of Rowing, friendship, and international connection.

The action resumes today, Thursday 11 September at 08:00 CET. Catch all the action live on worldrowing.com or on our YouTube page.

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The 2025 World Rowing Masters Regatta is underway in Banyoles

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