Two local rowers are going to the 2018 World Offshore Rowing Championships in Victoria, Canada 12-14th October 2018; www.worldrowing.com/events/2018-world-rowing-coastal-championships Rowing in the single scull class of boats, Jenny Glass from Langstone and Kern Toussaint from Portsmouth, are busy fine-tuning their practice in this exciting international sport. Rowing around Chichester and Langstone Harbours - seen here in Epona - Jenny is the GBR number 2 seed and Kern the GBR number 4 seed.
This form of coastal racing utilises sliding seat, stable boats that are self-buoyant – FISA Class - sculling in Singles, Doubles and Quads. The racing format has an exciting beach start; a ‘W’ shaped 4-kilometre course for Heats & a 6-kilometre course for Finals; and a beach run to finish. It all takes place in open sea water, with no lanes, other than the start; and several tightly contested ‘buoy’ turns along the way.
Coach Mike Gilbert from Langstone Adventure Rowing says: “This form of coastal rowing combines our unique know-how of coastal rowing, coaching and training with sliding seats. It is a challenging conversion for sliding seat rowers - and fixed coastal rowers alike! We wish Jenny and Kern the very best of fortune in the World Championships and will be attending to see how it all goes.
This FISA standard, is a new focus, supported by British Rowing who held the first national Championships in Sandbanks last in August. We can see this as a growing activity to complement our continuing support to the Get Up and Go! Programme, Charity Challenges and fixed seat Coastal Rowing in Gigs & St Ayles Skiffs”
Interest is growing, and LAR are starting up a FISA Coastal Rowing Club at Northney Marina to build on the opportunity and experience we are gaining this year. The class of boats allows rowing all year round and Northney provides water almost 24 hours a day for sessions. Any interest in joining this new coastal rowing development, contact Mike Gilbert at mike@langstonerowing.co.uk – reference FISA Club.