Sport rowing

Coastal and ocean rowing

Coastal and ocean rowing is a type of rowing performed on the sea. Due to the harsher conditions encountered at sea, the boats are wider and more robust than those used on rivers and lakes.

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The sport of Coastal and Offshore Rowing is thriving across Europe, though at present most British sea rowing is "traditional" fixed seat rowing and competition is of a regional nature. France is leading the development of modern sliding seat sea going boats, "Yoles", and National Competition here is well established with FISA, the Worldwide regulatory body for rowing encouraging the expansion of the sport to other countries.

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As the FISA World Coastal Rowing Challenge is becoming established the use of the French Yole is gaining in popularity and most European countries are beginning to adopt this standard class.

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The Cornish Pilot Gig Association is by far the largest British sea rowing group and preserves a tradition using both original and new boats made to a closely controlled specification. The CPGA has seen a huge continuing growth over the past decade or so and new boats are constantly being built to satisfy the demand. The Cornish Gig has been adopted by rowers in the Netherlands and there is a successful Gig club in Wales.

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Celtic Sea rowers in Wales and Ireland have adopted modern designs of fixed seat boats, loosely based on the Irish Curragh, which itself is still used by sea rowers in both countries.

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The annual All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships involves upto 350 crews each year and is believed to be second in size only to the Cornish Pilot Gigs World Championships in the Scilly Isles. The New Celtic Design boat which was introduced only 4 years ago is gaining in popularity and is used as a bridge to link the various Irish classes of boats from the East Coast skiffs, the Cork yawls, the Kerry 4 oars, Wexford/Slaney cotts to the Antrim gigs.

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Other groups thrive throughout British coastal regions: from the Shetlands in the North, Whitby and Scarborough on the North Sea; Seine boat rowers on the Teign, to the Channel Islands where clubs are beginning to adopt the modern French boats as European competition grows in importance.

Related Topics:
Shetlands - Whitby - Scarborough - North Sea - Teign - Channel Islands

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Competition thrives, whether a League system , or "one off" Challenges. The 22 mile London Great River Race is the major British event for traditional boats attracting up to 350 crews ,but there are many regular events throughout the long March to October season.

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The Welsh Longboat Rowing Association, for instance, organises a total of 21 offshore and estuary events each year. These range from 5 mile league races to the 90 mile Celtic Challenge, an epic Irish Sea crossing.

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The annual Interceltic Watersports competition features, amongst other events, sea rowing using both traditional and modern craft. This has greatly helped in the development of open water competition amongst rowers from the ten Celtic nations and Welsh rowers now compete across Europe, representing GB in France Italy and Spain.

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