Classes of Boat

The following classes of boat are recognized by FISA for coastal rowing:

FISA Coastal Rowing Championships Boat Classes

FISA Coastal Rowing Championships are held in the following events:

Construction of Coastal Rowing Boats

Coastal Rowing boats used in International Coastal Rowing Regattas and FISA Coastal Rowing Championships must meet the following three measurement requirements:

1. Maximum permitted length over all;
2. Minimum permitted weight of boat
3. Minimum permitted width of the boat measured at the following two locations, all measurements taken externally at the point of maximum overall beam:

(1) width overall;

(2) width at the Secondary Beam Measurement Point which shall be located at the specified height from the deepest point of the boat.

The maximum permitted length and minimum permitted weight are as follows:

There is no minimum length for Coastal Rowing boats.

The minimum permitted widths are as follows:

In Coastal Rowing Boats, all rowers must be seated in line over the axis of the boat and all coxed boats shall be designed so that the coxswain is required to sit upright to the stern of the rowers.

In addition to the floatation requirements referred to in Bye-Law to Rule 31 and in the “Minimum Guidelines for the Safe Practice of Rowing”, coastal rowing boats should be constructed with three (3) airtight compartments.

Boats must be designed and constructed so that the hulls are self-bailing; self-bailing shall mean that water in the boat will automatically be removed through special hatches by the forward movement of the boat.

The Organizing Committee of an international coastal rowing regatta may establish separate events for coastal rowing boats of different traditional designs or may allow such boats to compete in races together with boats of other designs, and at the discretion of the Organizing Committee may or may not categorize each design individually for the purpose of the competition.

Requirements for Coastal Boats and Equipment

All boats must meet the safety requirements set down by FISA and any additional requirements set down by any national, regional and/or local authority for participation in the particular Coastal regatta. In particular:

(a) Boats must meet the minimum flotation standards set down by FISA, either with built-in flotation or attached flotation tanks. (At an international coastal rowing regatta for which the Organizing Committee accepts entries from traditional coastal rowing boats of any type, then where such boats meet all safety requirements for that design of boat and where the Organizing Committee is satisfied in that regard, the FISA flotation standards will not separately apply to those traditional boats);

(b) Boats must carry a life jacket for every crew member, of a type which meets recognized international standards. Coxswains must wear a life jacket at all times in the boat;

(c) Boats must have a cleat at the bow fitted with a 10m (32.81 ft) buoyant line, both the cleat and the line shall be of sufficient strength to allow the secure towing of the swamped boat with crew members on board in strong wind and sea conditions. The loose end of the line must be within hand-reach of a rower for the purpose of throwing to a rescue boat if required;

(d) Any ballast must be fixed securely to the structure of the boat.

(e) During Coastal rowing races, for safety reasons each boat shall be permitted to carry such radio or telecommunication equipment as permitted or required by the Organizing Committee or by other maritime authorities for such events.

(f) The Jury may at its discretion refuse permission for a particular boat or crew to go on the water or to participate in the regatta if it believes the boat is unsafe.

For more information please reference the full FISA Coastal Rowing Regulations.