Oeiras, Portugal

Words + Photography: Benedict Tufnell

Above Patrick Junior Semedo Fernandes CPV CM1x

The beach sprints format isn’t like anything else in rowing and represents one of the newest and most thrilling competition formats the sport has seen.

After its successful debut in Shenzhen in 2019, and following a Covid cancellation, the second ever World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals took place this year over three days from September 24 – 26 in Oeiras, Portugal. The entry included nearly 200 rowers representing 25 countries across nine boat classes.

In this new competition format, on the drop of the starter’s flag rowers run down the beach to their waiting boat – held by teammates on the water – jump in and slalom their way around 3 bouys over 250 metres, U-turn around a final bouy, and row in a straight line back to shore. To finish they leap out of the boat and sprint back up the beach to the start to hit a buzzer in the sand to stop the clock.

Above Kjetil Borch NOR CM1x

To be successful in beach sprints requires speed, agility, athleticism, and a little knowledge of the beach and water currents. It makes for more unpredictable racing than in traditional flat-water rowing.

The opening round is a time trial. Second round elimination repechages bring the number of crews in each boat class down to eight.

Quarter finals, semifinals and finals are then raced in quick succession with a bronze medal final to determine 3rd and 4th places.