British Rowing Offshore Championships Update 13/04/17
Dear Rowers British Rowing is committed to making sure rowing is an accessible and inclusive sport that provides opportunities for enjoyment and achievement at all levels. To better achieve this goal British Rowing understands the need to expand those opportunities to include coastal rowing of all types. FISA have been supporting the growth of the FISA class of coastal rowing (offshore) to broaden the universality of the sport to countries and communities that do not have the desire or the water to compete in river or lake rowing. World rowing recognises 3 boat types solo (C1x), double (C2x) and quad (C4x+) and two race disciples: - Endro a mass 6km race around turning points with or without a beach start and finish. - Beach Sprint a side by side 250m slalom course starting and finishing on the beach. With this in mind, British Rowing wishes to develop a Offshore Championships that would provide a pathway progression from the emerging in-country offshore competitions to the World Rowing Costal Championship. Further objectives include supporting the development of the discipline (rules, event organisers, umpires, etc.) In 2017 British Rowing will be hosting the Endro form of the competition for those crews wishing to qualify for the World Coastal Rowing Championships in Thonon, France. From 2018 British Rowing will aim to include the Beach Sprint format. This format was codified by World Rowing in 2014 and has been officially part of the Mediterranean Beach Games (2015) and the Asian Beach Games (2016). There are plans for a 2018 Commonwealth Rowing Beach Championships and World Rowing are working to get the inclusion of the format into the ANOC World Beach Games 2019. The Beach Sprint format is a strategically important part of World Rowing future. The Beach Sprint version has been specifically been designed to be low cost to run, provide strong event presentation and spectator appeal and to allow jeopardy to be a part of the competition outcome. 2
2017 In 2017 British Rowing will be hosting a qualifying event for the World Coastal Rowing Championships. This will become in future years the British Rowing Offshore Championships which will present an opportunity for coastal clubs from different disciplines to race in a common event in FISA boats. The 2017 event will be held on the 30 th of July at Sandbanks near Poole. There will also be a development day on the 29 th of July. This is an opportunity for crews to practise, learn how to plot a path around the course, attend a briefing for coxes as well as workshops for crews not used to offshore conditions. Rosie Mayglothling: British Rowing, Director of Pathways Guin Batten: Head of the Jury James Andrews: British Rowing, Head of Pathways If you have any further questions please contact James Andrews at james.andrews@britishrowing.org. FAQs for the British Rowing Offshore Championships When will the British Rowing Offshore Championships be held? Saturday 29 th of July: Development Day Sunday 30 th of July: Offshore Championships Where will the British Rowing Offshore Championships be located? Sandbanks Beach. Located near Sandbanks Carpark, Banks Rd, Poole BH13 7QQ Why are British Rowing hosting an Offshore Championships? With the increasing popularity of the World Coastal Rowing Championships British Rowing have taken the decision to host the event for the following reasons: 1: To promote the sport of Coastal Rowing. 2: To enable British crews the chance to race in the UK 3: To provide an opportunity for crews to be seeded for the World Coastal Rowing Championships. How does this event fit in with the World Coastal Championships? This event will be an opportunity for crews to be seeded for the World Coastal Rowing Championships. Meaning crews that are seeded will not have to take part in qualifying races at the event. 3
Can I still compete at the World Coastal Championships if I don t compete at BRCC? You can still enter the World Coastal Championships. However, you will have to race through qualifying and are not guaranteed entry into the heats. Will the Beach Sprints be held in 2017? No, in 2017 we will only host qualifying events for the World Coastal Rowing Championships. However, we will be having a beach start for the Enduro event. We hope to host a Beach Sprint Championships in 2018. What categories will there be? The following boat classes will be on offer to match categories at the World Rowing Coastal Championships. Men (M) C1x, C2x, C4x+ Women (W) C1x, C2x, C4x+ What type of boat do I need? Coastal boat classes recognised by FISA Solo (C1x) Double (C2x) Coxed Quadruple Sculls (C4x+) My club doesn t own a FISA coastal boat, will there be an opportunity to hire equipment for the event? It is our hope we will have equipment available for hire, information regarding this will be released soon. How much will the cost of entry be? The cost of entry will be confirmed by the end of April. When do entries close? July 1 st, 2017 Can anyone enter? Yes anyone with rowing experience can enter. However as this is the first year, if entry is high we may restrict entry to those wishing to take part in the World Rowing Coastal Championships. How can I enter? Entry will be through the British Rowing Online Entry system. 4
Do I need a British Rowing membership to take part? Yes, you will need to have a minimum of a British Rowing Silver Membership. Why do I need a British Rowing Membership? To take part in the World Coastal Rowing Championships, you and your club must be affiliated to your National Governing Body. A requirement for this will be that your club must be affiliated to British Rowing and to take part you must be a British Rowing member. Do you have any further information about the World Coastal Rowing Championships? Location & Date: Thonon, France 13-15 October. Important information regarding entry to the World Coastal Rowing Championships. Follow the steps below to make and entry: 1: Clubs to fill out and send the online entry form to British Rowing by 1 August. 2: British Rowing to make entries by 1 September using FISA online entry system. Club names and crew rankings to be included. 3: All Athletes to fill out the new Athlete Commitment Form and to send it to FISA by mail or, to hand it to the FISA representative at the registration in Thonon. All Crews must confirm their entries by 11:00 hrs on 12 October 2017 5