World Rowing Coastal Championships underway

The 2011 World Rowing Coastal Championships are underway, with over 500 competitors from 19 nations converging on the Italian coast for a weekend of frantic rowing in the Adriatic.

Six coastal titles are being contested, with Italy, France, and Spain sending large contingents to Bari.

The racing course will see competitors pass seven turning points – the furthest some 1.5km from shore – before finishing with a 1.1km sprint.

 ‘It’s really exciting to be in Bari,’ said former coastal rowing champion and British Olympian Guin Batten – now Chair of FISA’s Rowing for All Commission. 

‘It’s brilliant we are so close to the town and the spectators can come out and view the rowers on the water. If the wind picks up there’ll be some great racing off shore with lots of technical turns.’

Heats take place throughout Friday (21 October), with finals scheduled for Saturday and mixed and open events set to be raced on Sunday.

For more information on the 2011 World Rowing Coastal Championships, visit wrcrcbari2011.com.