Coastal rowing is very popular in Europe and Asia, where seafaring work heritages evolved into a competitive, adventurous sport. Participation in coastal rowing is growing in North America. Often described as the “mountain biking” of rowing, coastal rowing requires a smidge of seamanship to supplement your rowing skills and fitness. Coastal rowers navigate tides and currents and surf the waves. It can be a relaxing exploration of waterways or intense racing.

While coastal and open water are often used interchangeably, open water is the broader category, meaning rowing heavier boats on challenging water, be it a coastline or large lake.

Coastal rowing allows clubs to adapt to all sorts of water conditions. And, coastal racing is exciting! In San Francisco Bay there are extreme tidal flows, irregular coastlines, lots of boat traffic and beautiful scenery. In Pensacola Bay, mild rolling waves are common in the morning, with increasing winds in the afternoon creating opportunities for coastal challenges.

While coastal rowing thrives in United States areas that have access to lakes and coast line like include New England, Florida, California, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and the Great Lakes, a growing number of clubs are offering coastal rowing. Visit our Clubs page to find one near you.

Read World Rowing’s all-inclusive Learn to Row document for Coastal Rowing.

Like flat-water rowing, coastal boats include 1x (Solo), 2x (Double) and 4x (Quad). Coastal boats are shorter in length and wider for better stability.

There are seven boat classes for men and women: single scull (solo), double sculls, coxed quadruple sculls and a mixed double scull.

Coastal boats meet specific criteria set by World Rowing, the international governing body for competitive rowing. For example, many open water boats have a self-bailer in the foot compartment, or are traditional wooden boats large and heavy enough to prevent swamping (filling with water) even in rough water conditions. FISA-certified coastal boats must have an open stern transom to automatically fully drain the boat.

BEACH SPRINTS
The courses include an initial straight line run from a start line on the beach to the water’s edge, a distance between 10 and 50 meters.

The second part of the course is made up of three buoys in each racing lane, each about 85 meters apart. The rowers makes their way to the third buoy, turn around and head back to shore.

Then they jump out of the boat and run bak to the start/finish line.

INTERNATIONAL COASTAL REGATTAS
In principle there is no specified race distance and this can vary from regatta to regatta depending on the location. In general these races tend to be 4000m heats, and 6000m finals.

WORLD ROWING COASTAL REGATTAS
In principle the race distance should be 6000m to 8000m, but varies depending on the venue.