Congratulations to Seren Williams and Charlotte Foster who entered the 2026 British Coastal Rowing Championships held at Whitby over the weekend of July 25th and 26th, and came away with a gold medal apiece, racing together in the Women’s under-19 2x, plus a silver medal for Seren in the Women’s under-19 1x (solo).
Crews from around the UK and overseas raced in singles, doubles and quads over a 4km course, rounding a series of buoys in challenging conditions in the sea before returning to finish inside the harbour.
Coastal course
A blustery wind meant the schedule being revised several times with racing only able to start late on Saturday evening before continuing on Sunday morning.
After hosting a successful English leg of the Four Nations Coastal Sculling Series in 2025, the decision was taken for Whitby to stage the 2026 British Coastal Championships, and to combine it with the English Championships which form the English leg of the Four Nations Series, which includes two formats – Beach Sprints (Junior and Senior events) and Enduro (Coastal sculling over a longer course). Points gained at the English Championships will be added to those at events in Wales, Scotland and Jersey to decide the Series winners.
The English Senior Beach Sprint Championships took place at South Shields on May 23rd.
The English Junior Beach Sprint Championships are at Studland, Dorset on August 10th.
In coastal rowing competitions boats are provided for competitors and shared between events. Swift Racing is the equipment sponsor for the whole of the Coastal Series.
Among those taking part at Whitby was current European Coastal Rowing Champion Bass Andre of Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club who won 3 gold and 1 silver medals to add to her win with Molesey Boat Club in the inaugural Danesfield Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta three weeks earlier.
Results from the Whitby event are on Whitby Coastal Rowing Club’s facebook page and will be available elsewhere in due course.
Racing at Whitby
Well done to all taking part.