What is Coastal Rowing?
Coastal rowing is the “adventure side of rowing”. Utilized for ocean-rowing or inland rowing on rough-water lakes and rivers, coastal rowing adds a new dimension to traditional flatwater rowing. The standard boats are singles, doubles and coxed quadruple sculls. In addition to their own equipment and technique, coastal rowers must also be aware of tides, currents and be able to maneuver through rough water and near other marine traffic.
Coastal boats are robust and stable, and make a great addition to club fleets. They are ideal learn-to-row boats, and great for those club members who enjoy a more stable rowing shell. As coastal boats are designed for rough conditions, club members can go out when the weather might preclude rowing in racing shells.
Rowing BC’s Coastal Rowing Committee works to create guidelines and recommendations for the further development of Coastal Rowing in BC. If you are interested in getting involved, or want to know more about coastal rowing, reach out to memberservices@rowingbc.ca.
Beach Sprint Rowing
This new and exciting discipline of rowing involves a short run on the beach at the beginning and end of each race. The on-water portion of the race includes a 250m slalom row out from the beach, then 250m straight back.
Rowing BC is leading the way in this discipline, with several beach sprint regattas already hosted in our province. There is more to come!
Curious about more? Reach out to Rowing BC’s Coastal Rowing Committee through memberservices@rowingbc.ca.
photo by Kevin Light Photography
Coastal Endurance
Coastal Endurance competitions can take many forms. The World Rowing format includes 4000m and 6000m race distances. In 2018 the World Rowing Coastal Championships were held in Sidney, BC and saw many BC rowers competing.
But coastal endurance races are not limited to this format. Races such as the Cadborosaurus Coastal Endurance Regatta ranges from 4.5km to 7km depending on route and weather. The unique Race Around the Rock Regatta is a relay coastal endurance event where crews can do 8km to 25km segments… or row the whole 88km continuously.
Coastal Regattas are included in the Rowing BC Events Calendar.
Recreational Coastal Rowing
You don’t need to race to be an avid coastal rower. Any rower can get out onto the ocean or big lakes.
We asked Janice Mason, a previous Rowing BC Board Member and Olympian who completed the 750-mile Race to Alaska in 2016, why she suggests coastal rowing to others.
“Coastal rowing is a fantastic way to enjoy rowing in our vast, open, beautiful environment. One can experience such a variety of conditions that you would never get out into in a racing shell. The boats are much more stable thus more relaxing for new rowers (less tippy) and even fun for us old experienced rowers whose joints aren’t quite as mobile as when young.”
To find a coastal rowing club in BC, go to our Find a Rowing Organization page.
Photo by Katie Steenman