Ian Joblling
The coxed quad crew from Coastal Rowing Noosa (CRN) won a silver medal at the Australian Coastal Rowing Championships held in Mooloolaba from 15-18 August.
The local club, based along Gympie Terrace, secured the medal in the Beach Sprint event coming in only three seconds behind the winners from Glenorchy in Tasmania.
CRN Boat Captain Ann Harrap commented, “This was only the third time the Australian Coastal Rowing championships has been held in Australia but there was a real uptick in participation, particularly from younger crews.”
Coastal Rowing Beach Sprints will be included as an event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and it is highly likely it will remain in the program for the 2032 Brisbane Games.
The ideal location for the Beach Sprints event in 2032 would be on the Sunshine Coast to utilise the north-east facing beaches at either Mooloolaba or Noosa Nain Beach at Laguna Bay, Ms Harrap said.
“For the last three years, the Australian Coastal Rowing championships have been held either at Noosa or Mooloolaba and the weather has been very conducive for the events every time: the conditions, infrastructure and local support on the Sunshine Coast are perfect for both the Beach Sprint and Endurance formats,” she said.
A Beach Sprint race is between two boats which are rowed through a two gate slalom course, around a buoy stationed 250 metres out, and then a row straight back to the shore while ensuring the craft rides the swells.
With eight years to go before the 2032 Olympics, local CRN club is keen to welcome younger rowers who are interested in the excitement, challenge and thrill of rowing on waves.
“For those who are familiar with either surf boats or flat water rowing, the transition to coastal rowing is fairly easy,” Ms Harrap said.
The CRN is a club for people of all ages interested in both social and competitive coastal rowing. With a number of different boats – quads, doubles and singles – the club can host rowers interested in training for competitive events. Visitors to Noosa can attend for casual rows and locals, particularly those with previous rowing experience, are encouraged to join up.
Although it is not included in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the Endurance event is a row of between 4–6 kms, in quad boats, a distance about from Noosa Beach to near Hell’s Gate in Noosa National Park and back. It is possible that the Endurance could be included in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Ann Harrap said Coastal Rowers could be as relaxed or as energetic as they want.
“We are really keen to see more people take up the sport,” she said.
However, wouldn’t it be a magnificent sight for Australian and international television viewers as the television cameras follow the world’s best rowers racing to and from Hell’s Gate in 2032.
Interested rowers should contact Ann on 0432 141 308 or Peter Watson on 0432 757 477.
