Updated upon return from the World Championships
Pierrick Ledard offers us a look back at their trip to the world sea rowing championships which took place from October 7 to 9, 2022 in Saundersfoot, United Kingdom.
To start with the men's doubles, we had a very good series where we finished 4th with a great start, knowing that places were expensive because only 6 boats progressed to the A final in each series. For the final it will be something completely different, shortened to 4km instead of 6km due to the strong conditions at the end of the course.
The departures were made from the beach, the rowers alongside their boats, we were at water line number 8 in the middle but especially in the middle of the bay, we were therefore around twenty meters back from the exterior water lines. At the sound signal, all the rowers board the boat and the race is underway.
Unfortunately Arthur's harness left its rail, so we had to put it back in place, we will leave dead last, after a first trip in submarine mode facing the waves, we will do our best to make up for our delay, but the reduced distance did not give us enough time to succeed in getting closer to the Top 5, we will finish 11th by going up to the back of the 10th.
We are obviously disappointed because we had the potential and the conditions were in our favor but we can still be happy with the course achieved and take it as an experience! especially for Arthur who is only 20 years old and for whom these were his first world championships!
In Mixed doubles it was different, we had no benchmarks, it was our first race together in this “Coastal” format and above all we must remember that Marine started rowing at the beginning of the year! in 2022 she discovered her first race, her first French championships with Quentin and therefore for the occasion her first world championships!
The goal was therefore to discover and gain experience for her. After passing the series without difficulty, we will reach 5th place.
We wanted to do the best possible for this final, especially trying to get a good place on the first leg.
We will manage to make a good start, we will stay in contact with the leading group until the first transfer which was a little complex! we will succeed in making the inside on this first tack where we will come out in 5th position but the second tack was more complicated and unfortunately we will find ourselves tight at the buoy which resulted in a demotion in the ranking.
The rest of the course was not easy with permanent contact with the competing crews who were more or less skilled in the waves.
As in the final with Arthur, the 4km did not allow us to make any big comebacks, so we will finish 8th in a group for 5th place. Once again we had the potential to enter the Top 5 but you have to take into account the facts of the race it can't always be perfect!
You also have to tell yourself that 1 or 2 TOP 10 in a world championship is not that simple and be happy with it! especially when we know that we can play the leading roles! Now we know what we need to work on!
Next step, the harbor at arm's length in Cherbourg this Saturday then in 15 days the European Championships in San Sebastien
And to finish the little 24-hour challenge on November 5 in Carteret!
Thank you all for your support !!
The 4 October 2022
Cotentin will be very well represented at the world sea rowing championships which will take place from October 7 to 9, 2022 in Saundersfoot, United Kingdom.
Indeed, we have several crews entered in this competition. We asked 4 committed athletes to tell us about their passion for this little-known sport, Chloé Le Moigne and Magali Hamon from Cherbourg Sea Rowing Club, Arthur Sanson and Pierrick Ledard from the Barneville Carteret sea rowing club answer our questions!
Introduce yourself and your crews:
Chloe and Magali:
Our women's doubles crew consists of Chloé Le Moigne and Magali Hamon. Registered with the Cherbourg Club Aviron de Mer, we have been rowing together since 2018. In 2019, we completed a first full circuit of competitions by participating in the Western Championship, the French Championships and the World Championships in Hong Kong. After the 1 years of COVID, we completed the competition circuit again this year by securing a 2rd place at the French Championships in Cap d'Adge last May.
Chloé will also participate in the world championships in mixed doubles with a teammate from the Carteret rowing club.
Chloé and I participated in the World Championships in Hong Kong in 2019. And before our crew was formed, Chloé and I each participated in different world championships (Plymouth, Vancouver and Thonon)
Arthur and Pierrick:
We will be entered in Men's Doubles Arthur Sanson and myself Pierrick Ledard
Arthur is 20 years old and will discover the world championships for the first time, we finished vice champion of France in 2021 and 2022
For my part, this will be my 7th world championship, I was able to finish 2th twice, once 6th and twice Vice world champion.
I will also be competing in mixed doubles with Marine Delanoë who started rowing a year ago but who has made rapid progress! We were able to finish 3rd in the last French beach rowing championships.
I am very happy to be able to introduce the world championships to these two promising young people.
Is it a technical sport and difficult to learn?
Sea rowing practiced competitively is a technical sport that requires great coordination and rigor.
It is also important to master all aspects of navigation: knowledge of currents, tides and winds, navigation in the wave, passage of buoys... However, sea rowing remains fairly easy to access, with boats that are more robust and above all more stable than boats used on rivers. A few outings at sea are enough to feel great sensations on the water and appreciate this very complete sport.
It is a sport which seems very simple as a spectator but it is a technical sport to be able to perform well. It is also a tactical sport due to the navigation zone which integrates conditions which can be very varied between waves, current and wind.
Do you practice this activity all year round?
We can practice this sport all year round, whether in beautiful sunshine or pouring rain, it is rare not to be able to go out on the water to row. But our season is divided into several parts, in winter we spend more time on the indoor rower then the season begins in March with the 5 rounds of the Grand Ouest championship (Normandy, Brittany, Pays de la Loire) until the start June then we have the French sea rowing championship then the French beach rowing championship
In summer we have long distance races such as Jersey Carteret or Sark Jersey
Then in the fall we end the year with the European Championships and the World Championships.
Sea rowing can be practiced all year round in Cherbourg harbour. Training obviously depends on the weather conditions but the harbor and the channel provide a well-sheltered playing area which allows you to go out almost all the time.
What are the types of sea rowing boats?
Sea rowing can be practiced solo, in doubles and in fours with a coxswain.
During the competition, how do the events take place (duration of the competition, number of participants, course)?
In the national and international events, the coastal courses are 6km long with buoys to go around (see this year's world championship course).
During the world championships, qualifications allow the selection of competitors who will be in the A final and will thus be able to compete for a place on the podium. Competitors who cannot afford a place in the A final race in the B final.
Depending on the category, the number of competing boats varies between 25 and 40.
How many French people are participating in these championships? Is it a very developed sport in France?
26 French crews will participate in the world sea rowing championships this year. France is one of the nations that has given real impetus to the development of international sea rowing. Since then, France has always been well represented in international competitions.
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