The debut of the Beach Sprint in Lignano

A light bora and lots of fun on day 3 of the Barcolana, which has formally started in Lignano with the first edition of the Barcolana Lignano Beach Sprint. The competition is dedicated to yet another water discipline – coastal rowing on C1x, C2x, C4x+ boats – that has joined the many others that during this edition have turned the Barcolana into a true festival of the sea.

In order to canoe, it is necessary to wake up early: about a hundred athletes from all over Europe took part in the races held in Lignano in front of the ‘Pagoda’, which started at 8:30 a.m. “It is great to host a new sport in the Barcolana and make it known,” commented president Gialuz, “and it is really nice to bring our organisation to Lignano, where the coast of Friuli-Venezia Giulia originates. After the great success of the Barcolana SUP Experience yesterday in Grado, we are bringing the spirit of our event here to experience the sea together.”

The event was organised with the Italian Rowing Federation’s Regional Committee and Circolo Canottieri Lignano (Lignano Rowing Club), with the support of Promoturismo FVG, the Municipality of Lignano Sabbiadoro and Lignano Pineta Spa. It was welcomed enthusiastically, which allowed to promote this sub-discipline of rowing that is little known but entertaining, spectacular and easy to follow from the shore, and make it known to the general public. The 100 athletes competed in a coastal rowing race: a short run on the beach (a sprint of about 30 metres, which allows to reach one's boat quickly), a quick movement to get into the coastal rowing canoe, a 250-metre slalom course in the water up to the farthest turn buoy, a turn, and then another 250-metre course to return to the water edge and finish the last part of the race with a run of another 30 metres to the finish line. The races (timed trials for all athletes, followed by elimination races according to match racing, i.e. between two boats) were held from 8:30 a.m., after a briefing held on the beach. Find all the results here: https://www.barcolana.it/it/in-mare/barcolana-beach-sprint.