CBRC: An International Rowing Club

After a successful trip to Bordeaux (France) in 2005, a few members of the club went to France during the summer 2007 to row down the Loire for a week and in autumn 2007 a couple of rowers went to Delft (Holland) for an unusual 2007-meter race and to Saint-Malo (France) for a coastal rowing event.

Bristol's, Rennes' and Lausanne's rowers who rowed down the Loire - July 2007

Rowing down the Loire - Rennes (14th - 21st of July 2007) [website]

The Rennes Etudiants Club Aviron, a French students' rowing club, invited Bristol's and Lausanne's (Switzerland) rowers to row down the Loire in July 2007. 4 Bristolians took part in that adventure: the weather conditions were marvellous as you can expect from French weather! In a relaxed atmosphere, people from Rennes, Lausanne and Bristol rowed the Loire together in wide coxed quads (4x+) called yolettes. It was a great opportunity to speak about our different clubs' lives and national rowing experiences: CBRC rowers are used to rowing on the docks whereas Lausannois are used to rowing on the Leman Lake between the Alpes' mountains, Rennais sometimes row on the sea... We all compete in our own championships and have different social events.

Rennes's river, La Vilaine

During that week in France, CBRC's rowers also had the opportunity to try coastal rowing. In France, it is probably a bit different from what we are used to see in the UK (it is not like the Gigs on Bristol's docks). Sea rowing in France is a sport with national championships; in 2007, the first Clubs' World Coastal Rowing Championships in Cannes were also organised.

To correctly finish that amazing week in France, the REC Aviron organised a party for us in their boathouse. A bit of rowing on their river, a barbecue, music and some typically breton beverages were the essential elements to make a good party! That was the conclusion to a really good week. If you missed it in 2007, the REC Aviron plans to organise another week in 2008 in the Morbihan... the perfect opportunity to have a go at coastal rowing.

In France, it is always good to eat in a good restaurant

Pinnewood University Eights - Delft (22nd of September 2007) [website]

Rowing under the colours of Rennes and Lausanne a couple of CBRC rowers took part in the Pinewood University Eight regatta in Delft. It is a major student regatta where the top Dutch university crews compete. It was an opportunity to meet Rennes and Lausanne rowers again. A bit of rowing, some cheese, a lot of sunny weather, obviously some cycling around and a big party! That was a great weekend, the level of the competition really high but that was a good challenge.

Delft, the most beautiful town in Holland?

Bristolian Lauren at bow of the Lausanne's eight

Internationaux de France d'aviron de mer - Saint Malo (7th of October 2007) [website]

At the beginning of October, one CBRC rower took part in the Internationaux de France EDF d'aviron de mer: it is an open coastal rowing competition where international crews can join, usually people from Guernesey and Jersey take part. Because of an injury he ended up coxing the women's crew who won the event, and beat some mixed crews as well actually. Saint Malo is a beautiful place in the north of Brittany in France and is worth visiting (that is where Rennes's rowers practice coastal rowing). This open event could be attended by CBRC in the new few years, we now have French friends who might help us to enter!

French rowers in a coastal rowing boat

Do you want to try sea rowing?