Coastal Sculling
Coastal sculling is sculling’s wilder cousin and comes in two main formats: Endurance (Offshore) and Beach Sprints.
Endurance races take place over 4km for heats and 6km courses for finals and either start and/or finish off a beach or out at sea. This is the race for you if you’re wanting to challenge yourself over longer distances.
Beach Sprint races are much faster taking place straight off a beach. Rowers start by running 10-50m to their boat from a starting point on the beach before jumping in their boat and slaloming out 250m, spinning and sprinting the boat back before finally dismounting on the beach and running to the finish.
Below you can find out more about Coastal Sculling, where to try it and what British Rowing is doing to support this growing format of the sport.
Clubs and Venues
Want to give Coastal Sculling a go in your own time? Find out which clubs and organisations give you the chance to come and give Coastal Sculling a go.
British Rowing Offshore and Beach Sprint Championships
The British Rowing Offshore Championships and Beach Sprint Championships are a celebration of coastal rowing, aiming to support their development in Great Britain. Entries are welcomed by rowers from any rowing background. No need for equipment if you don’t have it, boats are available for hire at the Offshore Championships and boats are provided at the Beach Sprints.
Coastal Sculling Award
The coastal sculling award is aimed at coaches and event organisers from all types of rowing, who wish to learn how to prepare rowers to race in beach sprint and endurance competitions domestically and internationally using the World Rowing and British Rowing rules.
Learning Outcomes
The award is designed for rowing coaches and event organisers and aims to provide both with the following:
- Confidence and competence to coach rowing on coastal waters (<1.5km offshore) and on and off swimming beaches.
- Knowledge to run safe offshore/endurance and beach sprint training sessions and empower their rowers to operate safely on coastal waters (<1.5km offshore).
- The tactical and technical understanding of beach sprint format to prepare and support rowers and boat handlers to race.
Home International Rowing Beach Sprints
The Home International Rowing Beach Sprints is a new event with the four “Home Nations” of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland competing. The event is building off the rich history of its sister event the Home International Rowing Regatta, which has seen many Olympians racing for their first international representation.
Team Pages:
Commonwealth Games
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will see rowing return to the competition for the first time since 1986 in the form of Coastal Sculling and the Beach Sprint format. More information will appear here as we receive it for all home nations under Great Britain.
International Coastal Sculling Endurance Competitions
Information on entry and ranking for competitions including the World Rowing Coastal Championships, European Rowing Club Coastal Championships, and European Rowing Coastal Championships
GB Beach Sprint Team
British Rowing is committed to being one of the leading nations in the developing Beach Sprint format and competing at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. This event is ideal for agile and skilled scullers with a performance background, from either coastal or river rowing at either Junior or Senior Level.
Find out more about rowing for the GB Beach Sprint Team
Find out more about the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals