These were the 2024 World Rowing Coastal Championships

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World rowing reports: Genoa, Italy, Sunday 8 September 2024

With a schedule that was altered due to forecast adverse weather, the A finals of the 2024 World Rowing Coastal Championships in Genoa, Italy, were raced a day earlier than originally planned, with all of the new Champions being crowned yesterday. Crews from 11 different nations took home medals.

The coastal women’s solo was the first to race, and it saw last year’s champion defend her title. Although Diana Dymchenko was the first across the line, she had unfortunately missed a turning marker and therefore was classified as “Did Not Finish” which meant that Monika Dukarska of Kilorglin Rowing Club (IRL01) defended her be awarded the gold.

The coastal men’s double sculls saw the first of two medals for the Central Sports Club of the Army of Ukraine. The powerful Ukrainian crew forced the duo from Stockholm och Hognas Roddforening (SWE01) into silver medal position, the same that they achieved last year.

The coastal women’s quadruple sculls saw a fast start for Stowarzyszenie Olimpijskie Wygrywamy (POL01), and they led for the majority of the race, but on the final leg, the crew from Hollandia Roeiclub made their move and took the lead. The crew contained the recently-crowned Olympic Champion Karolien Florijn and was coxed by Dieuwke Fetter, who coxed the Dutch men’s eight to an Olympic silver medal in Paris. The Polish crew held on to silver ahead of another stacked crew. The boat from Hakes Bay Rowing Club (NZL01) had three Paris 2024 medallists on board.

Training day at Genova Beach — Traning Day in Genova, Credit Photo by Vittorio Puccio

All four of the Dutch rowers jumped straight out of the quad and into the double sculls but they weren’t quite able to achieve a second podium – although there were two medals for the Netherlands. The race was led throughout by Austria’s Lobnig sisters. Katharina and Magdalena took silver last year, but this year they reversed the result, beating the same Dutch crew that beat them last year! It was silver for Janneke van der Meulen and Karien Robbers (NED01) with Linn Van Aanholt and Claire De Kok (NED03) taking the bronze.

The coastal men’s solo saw a completely different podium to last year with two of last year’s medallists finishing seventh and eighth. Two Italians made the top three this year, although the gold medal went to New Zealand as Finlay Hamill took the lead in the early stages and crossed the line comfortably ahead of the chasing pack. The silver and bronze medals went to two different Italian Clubs with Davide Mumolo of GruppoSportivo della Polizia di Stato “Fiamme Oro” (ITA01) finishing second and Gabriele Loconsole of Canottieri Cernobbio 1901 ASD (ITA02) third.

The coastal men’s quadruple sculls saw a second gold medal for the Central Sports Club of the Army of Ukraine (UKR01) who overtook Italy01 at the first turning buoy. While the silver medal went to Club Remo Guadalquivir 1986 (ESP05) there were more medals for the Florijn family when Hollandia Roeiclub (NED01) worked their way through the field to claim bronze. The crew included Karolien’s brothers, Beer and Finn, alongside Lennart van Lierop and Jan van der Bij. It was the second medal of the day for Dutch cox, Dieuwke Fetter.

The last boat class of the day was the coastal mixed double sculls which saw places traded at the front throughout the race. The Championship title eventually went to Real Circulo de Labradores de Sevilla (ESP03) who had worked their way through the field. C.C.Saturnia -Trieste (ITA02) took the silver while New Zealand Rowing (NZL02) claimed bronze.

Next up, beach sprints!

Whilst some were only in Genoa for the Coastal Championships, some will stay for the Beach Sprint Finals which begin in a couple of days time, and lots more competitors will arrive too! Those staying in Genoa to race again include Tokyo 2020 Olympic Champion Emma Twigg who took bronze in the women’s quadruple scull at the Coastal Championships and will team up with a crew including the gold medalist in the men’s solo, Finlay Hamill, to race the mixed quadruple sculls.

Having won gold in the women’s solo at the Coastal Championships, Ireland’s Monika Dukarska will race in the same boat class at the beach sprints, hoping to improve on her fourth place finish from last year. However, Janneke Van Der Meulen, who won last year, will also race again this year.

The full entries for the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals can be seen here. Find out more about the 2024 World Rowing Beach Sprint finals here. For race reports, results and photos go to www.worldrowing.com