What is coastal rowing?

Rowing has gained a new boat class: coastal rowing. International championships keep giving the format more room. In 2026 coastal rowing features at the Youth Olympic Games, and in 2028 in Los Angeles beach sprint will be racing for Olympic medals for the first time.

The boats

They are called coastal boats, and as the name suggests they were designed for rowing along the coast — which makes them ideal for our stretch of the Baltic. Ruderklub Flensburg now owns four coastal singles, three coastal doubles and two coastal quads. Most are Filippi boats, alongside some from Swift and Rubenetti.

They are lively to row, sit very stable in the water, pick up real speed once they start surfing, and are close to unsinkable by design. The open stern lets water drain straight back out.

Who is it for?

Because of all that, complete beginners of any age can experience what makes rowing addictive — no special technique required. A little power and the basics are enough to move fast. Guaranteed fun. The boats are also a good stepping stone for anyone moving out of a double, quad or eight into a single for the first time.

Read more

World Rowing has published a detailed document on coastal rowing: World Rowing — Coastal Rowing (PDF).