WITH a burgeoning passion for rowing, The Bluff’s Rachel Whitfield, is scaling the ranks of coastal rowing. The 19-year-old received her South African colours in the sport less than a year after discovering it. 

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Whitfield’s introduction to coastal rowing was spontaneous. She first encountered it while attending the South African Championships for fine boat rowing, where she met her current coach, Avlyn Gallwey. “I had no prior knowledge of coastal rowing before speaking with her,” said Whitfield.

Whitfield had been doing fine boat rowing for four years and the idea of coastal rowing presented a whole new challenge for her.

Whitfield would have her first experience with the sport at the Durban Beach Sprints in June 2025, which is recognised as the inaugural coastal rowing competition in Durban.

“Although I was completely new to the sport and had very little experience, the competition introduced me to the excitement and challenges of rowing on the ocean. That first experience left me with a whole lot of bruises, but an even bigger smile on my face. It sparked my passion for coastal rowing and motivated me to continue training, developing my skills and competing in the sport,” she said. 

Fine boat rowing vs coastal rowing 

Unlike traditional rowing, which takes place on calm water over a standard 2 000m course, beach sprint rowing combines running and rowing. 

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“In beach sprint rowing, a discipline of coastal rowing, competitors begin by sprinting across the beach, launching into a coastal rowing boat, rowing a short course in open water that includes buoy turns, and then returning to shore to finish with another run. Beach sprint rowing emphasises power, agility, quick decision-making and the ability to adapt to unpredictable conditions, whereas traditional rowing focuses on endurance, rhythm and technical efficiency over a longer distance,” she said.

Challenges with the sport 

Despite its appeal, the sport presents significant challenges. According to Whitfield coastal rowing is affected by invariable factors. 

“Coastal races are affected by changing weather, waves, tides, currents and other boats. During a race, it is possible to miss a turning buoy, be pulled off course by a strong rip current, capsize or be knocked out of the boat by rough waves, or lose valuable time by choosing the wrong line through the water. Because conditions can change in an instant, coastal rowers must always think on their feet, make quick decisions and adapt their race plan. These challenges are what make the sport exciting, but they also require confidence, resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure,” she said. 

Earning her colours 

Following her debut in Durban, Whitfield was invited to a South African squad selection camp. Her performance at the East London Beach Sprints led to her selection for the national coastal rowing team. She followed this up with a podium finish with her doubles partner, Tanna Diplock, at the African Championships, where they both earned their South African colours.

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 “Being chosen to represent South Africa was an incredible honour and one of the proudest moments. Receiving my blazer was even more special, as it symbolised the privilege of representing my country and reminded me how far I had come since discovering coastal rowing only a few months earlier,” she added.

Whitfield attributes a substantial portion of her success to the support from her family, coaches and teammates at the Durban Rowing Club. She expressed her appreciation for her initial coach, Hilary Abraham, for fostering her passion for rowing and also thanked Gallwey, and South African coaches Kate and Bill Godfrey for their role in her athletic development.

A future Olympic star

Looking forward, Whitfield expressed her excitement about the future of coastal rowing, especially with its upcoming Olympic debut.

“Coastal rowing is such an amazing sport because it challenges you, brings people together, and creates memories and opportunities that can change lives,” she stated.

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