Is the Tide Rising for Coastal Rowing?
Coastal rowing has been on my mind a lot recently. Apparently I am not alone.
A few weeks ago, the FISA World Rowing Coastal Championship (WRCC for those in the know) wrapped up in Thessaloniki, Greece. By all accounts it was a highly successful event, with great participation and exhilarating conditions on the last day.
US Rowing is “going coastal”, announcing plans for up to 10 coastal regattas in 2015, including the purchase of a fleet of boats and creating a new responsibility for the program within its staff. Likening coastal regattas to NASCAR racing, US Rowing feels that the excitement of the sport will attract attention to rowing generally, and coastal rowing eventually may itself become an Olympic sport. There are many kilometres of coastline in the United States, offering a multitude of opportunities for the growth of clubs and events.
Rowing Canada is also seeing potential for growth, with a recent news articleand coverage of coastal regattas in Quebec and Ontario. North America seems to be catching up to what the Europeans have known for a long time.
Coastal rowing has been labelled the “mountain biking” of rowing. On their website, FISA describes it as “the extreme version, the adventure side of rowing.” This can be true and is definitely part of the appeal. There is also an extra component to coastal rowing. Additional skills are needed, such as being able to read tides and currents and even learning to surf the swells and waves.
The opportunity is not exclusively in racing, however, and it does not always have to involve overcoming adverse conditions. Coastal boats are wonderful for rowing travel. I already use coastal boats in Bellagio on my Italian & Swiss Lakes Rowing trip and for several rows during the California Dreaming – San Francisco Bay area. The coastal boats allow us to enjoy destinations and conditions that would not be accessible with normal recreational or Olympic class shells. The FISA Development Tour – Maldives 2015 will exclusively use coastal boats – combining recreationally exploring coral reefs and the great adventure of the Zero Degree Channel crossing – rowing 70 km to cross the equator. I am investigating full coastal tours in Québec, Canada and Brittany, France for 2015. Others are already offering coastal day or longer trips. The volunteers of Coastal Rowing Australia seem to have a lot of fun on their tours – who wouldn’t in such lovely locations!
Maryellen Auger of Little Harbor Boathouse in Marblehead MA (has found that a big barrier for people trying coastal rowing is fear. Flat water rowers can be intimidated by the water conditions, the size and weight of the boats and just the concept of launching out onto the great huge ocean. This will start changing as knowledge of the sport grows.
Maybe coastal rowing can really become like mountain biking – which not only features daredevils, death-defying single track and wild, heart-stopping descents, but is also a sport that many recreational cyclists enjoy on a Sunday with the kids. Let’s catch this rising tide.
The Channel Islands are well Known throughout Europe for their excellent offshore races and regattas. Guernsey in particular, because of their wealth of knowledge and experience of offshore rowing (several club stalwarts are ‘Atlantic Rowers’) were chosen by FISA to hold the inaugural Worlds Offshore Rowing Championships in 2006, which were an outstanding success and FISA have gone on from there. A Guernsey team of rowers/designers/builders build most of the boats now used in the Channel Islands and also further afield. Please take a look at The Guernsey Rowing Club website for further information. http://www.guernseyrowingclub.org.gg
Thank you very much, Peter. This is very interesting as well as informative. I am thinking about creating a trip in Brittany – perhaps it could be combined with the Channel Islands in some way?
You would be very welcome indeed, Brittany, Normandy, and the Channel Islands rowing fraternity have some long and strong friendships and I am certain you would be made very welcome throughout the whole area.
Wonderful. Thank you. We will stay in touch.
Rowing off-coast is exhilarating! Yesterday’s 5 miler around Tinkers Island was a placid, tranquil row. The same row with swells and chop brings the thrill of driving off the swells increasing speed and momentum! The “fear” factor for most subsides quickly once a rower experiences the stability of the open water rowing shell and gains confidence in varied water conditions. I’ve heard more than one skilled oarsman say “open water rowing improves traditional sculling performance.” I’m enthusiastic about U.S. Rowing’s “Going Coastal” initiative! The east coast has a spectacular coastline for rowing and the waters on Boston’s North Shore are some of the best! If you’re an experienced rower looking to advance or want to take give coastal rowing a go, there’s a Coastal Rowing Intensive with Coach Gordon Hamilton June 5-7, 2015 at Little Harbor Boathouse. For details visit: http://www.rowingforall.com/events/sculling-intensive/.
Great comments Maryellen – thank you. I too was initially a bit nervous rowing in the swells off Marblehead with you, but quickly gained confidence and just loved it. I want to do more! Good luck with your initiatives.
Having learnt to row down on the coast of Devon, my experience began 18 years ago in French coastal boats, and my passion continues to this day. I’ve been lucky enough to row on the seas in Devon, France, Guernsey – a great place to row and race, and I do miss the Little Russell Regatta, and raced in the inaugural Worlds Offshore Champs over there,Italy and I’ve also had the pleasure of rowing in Noosa with Creagh and the gang at Coastal Rowing Australia, then finally in Greece at the WRCC a couple of weeks ago. I’ve now moved up North and managed to talk quite a few of the members of my current rowing club to have a go at coastal rowing, even though we are a traditional fine boat club. We’ve been successful at races down in Devon and 5 other rowers from the club now have got the bug for the excitement of coastal rowing and joined me in Greece. The mountain bike analogy is a good one, I’ve also heard coastal rowing being described as the rally driving apposed to the F1 fine boat, however the 2 compliment each other so well. I’d suggest that anyone who has the opportunity to give it a go, takes on the experience, you’ll not regret it. Coastal rowers are an incredibly friendly bunch of people who share a passion for the sea and all that it can throw at you.
Thank you for the comments, Jill. Wonderful that you are sharing your enthusiasm and knowledge. Congratulations on your success. I live in the absolute centre of Canada, about as far from any ocean as you can get. I have been fortunate to experience coastal rowing through travelling, and I have been bitten by the bug. I look forward to experiencing it in many other locations.
Coastal rowing has taken off in Africa too – a new recreational club has been established in Cape Town, South Africa, and undertakes recreational tours to a variety of destinations in the region.
Another wonderful destination! Thank you very much, Dave.
See http://www.facebook.com/capecoastalrowing
Hi Ruth
Enjoyed your comments about coast rowing. I am glad to see that there is interest in Canada. Of course there are many different types of open sea rowing with many boat types linked to local geographic conditions and customs. I rowed in sliding seat shells in Canada for many years. I now live near the sea in Catalonia and row in an eight-oared llagut, a type of boat based on traditional fishing boats. We get out on the Mediterranean two of three times a week and its great. There are few lakes and rivers around here suitable for sliding seat rowing so rowing llaguts is the only real option in most areas here. Up in the Basque country they row 14-oar traineras based on old whale chasing boats. Years ago I raced ice canoes (four rowers) in Quebec and that could also be considered as traditional rowing. Any way, it’s great to see that coastal rowing is gaining some recognition regardless of the type of boats.
Hi Xavier,
Thank you for your informative note. It is fascinating to learn about different traditional rowing boats. I am sure that where you row is beautiful. And not to mention a big contrast to ice canoes in Québec. I am planning a trip on Lac St. Jean and the Saguenay fjord for 2015. I hope to stop by to visit the rowing club in Québec City. We will be there in summer, but it would be terrific for the rowers to learn about this very unusual form of rowing. And yes, there really is growing interest.
I currently race and row on the ocean and own my own boat. My one concern is that i heard that only one type of boat is being allowed by the U.S. to race in and they are quite expensive.
Hi Eileen. Congratulations on racing on the ocean. I suspect that the USA might be following the FISA rules for the type of boats allowed in the World Coastal regatta. I have heard that quite a few boat manufacturers see an opportunity in coastal rowing and are coming out with coastal boats – likely matching the FISA requirements. Hopefully that will bring the price down.
I began open water rowing in a Bolger Dory in 1996 on the Chesapeake Bay. Since then I have rowed many different sliding seat and fixed seat boats from Anchorage , AK to Pierre Part, LA- this month (october 2015) has been very special since my wife and I have had the opportunity to coastal row in Concarneau and Douaranenez, Brittany, France with Avrion Mer Concarneau and Avrion Mer Douarnenez. We would love to get more involved in US Coastal Rowing. brian and carol schexnayder, baltimore, md 410-786-3864 bayoubri@comcast.net
Hello Brian and Carol. Thank you very much for your comment. What an impressive resumé of coastal rowing you have! Will you be going to any of the new coastal races? Best – Ruth
Hi Ruth,
As well as the FISA type boats, with open transoms and a wide beam that are raced in the channel islands and in Europe, there are other types of sliding seat coastal rowing boats raced on the South Coast of the UK. The boats are a lot finer than the FISA boats, and it has a long (200 year) history with intense leagues and rivalries between clubs. These races are fast and furious, and the skill required in the rough is immense! If you’re interested, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwm4mWEIiz4 shows a windy regatta last year.
Best Regards, Pete
Hi Ruth,
I live in Cornwall in the SW of England. I am a member of Zennor Pilot Gig Club. We row 32ft wooden built pilot gigs (fixed seat) all around the South West of England including the Isles of Scilly (where the world pilot gig champs take place every year).
Hi Ian, Thanks very much for contacting us and the great information that you provided. Turns out that I, with some others, are starting to look into creating some trips utilizing Pilot Gigs. May I add you to our database to get our electronic newsletter? This is the best way to get announcements about things like new trips.
Yes that would be great
Perfect. Thank you.
Hi Ruth, from sunny east coast Oz I see some activity… I’m chasing plans for a wooden ocean rowing double but so far nothing. Apparently there is a Guernsey builder – but there was no response to my email. Any ideas? thx.
Hi Trevor,
Greetings from rainy Ireland, where I travelling for the moment. Sorry, I am not aware of plans for wooden doubles. Sliding seat? There are lots of traditional boats in both England and Ireland, but typically fixed seat. Good luck!
Regards,
Ruth