www.coastalrowingacademy.co.uk
Coastal Rowing is a growing sport in the PO9-PO11 area, ever since 1999 when the local Langstone Cutters Rowing Club started - up it has grown every year. There are now over 16 different places you can jump into a coastal rowing boat across the 3 Harbours of Portsmouth, Langstone and Chichester.
From rowing Cornish Pilot Gigs, Celtic Longboats and Coastal Sliding Sculling boats, the various Clubs offer recreational rowing for fun, local excursions for coffee or to watch the sun go down; events from rowing through the heart of London; Paris or Venice and Racing to all standards, from local Regattas to representing your Club or Great Britain in a World Championships.
Whatever your age from 12 to 80 (and beyond) you can row with a group that offer teaching, coaching and fun. Havant Borough Council offers subsidised ‘Learn to Row’ Classes delivered by the local Coastal Rowing Academy: as part of the Get Up and Go! Programme. Or you can sign up for a ‘taster’ with any of the local Clubs or the Academy.
As well social and fitness aspects, there are all sorts of roles in rowing Clubs: repairs and maintenance of boats and equipment, administration and social media; Coxing and Instructing as well as making tea & cakes for events.
The Langstone Cutters Rowing Club celebrated in grand style with a party at the Royal Oak and with a row-past with Gladys – the boat that started Coastal Rowing in and around Hayling Island. Over the last 25 years Langstone Cutters have rowed the Channel; raced (and won) London 2 Paris; toured in Ireland, Paris; Venice; the Broads; Morbihan and beyond.
The Coastal Rowing Academy Club quad and double teams went racing in the Welsh Open in Aberdovey; where they came back with 2 x Gold Medals. Now inspired to throw themselves at the World Coastal Rowing Championships, in Genoa, Italy in October. How great that local residents – Sophie, Rowena, Liz and Jo are all set for a crack at the top of the sport in 2024.
Pilot Gigs - Meanwhile, Langstone Pilot Gig Club; RN; ECA and the Academy Club headed over to Seaford in East Sussex to race in the first regatta of the new South East England Gig League.
Celtic Longboats: there are now eight of these in the Postcode region from Dell Quay to Langstone with the latest in Bosham which arrived recently. Below are some racing in Chichester harbour.
For more information on any aspect of Coastal Rowing – training; tasters; social or racing, message Mike Gilbert on 07767 350512 or email: academymike@yahoo.com
