Coastal Rowing Crew competing in the Grafton Marathon, 54km :  Creagh/ Darryl/ Mal/ Sian/ Wil/ David/ Linda/ Denis/ Rachel/ Cherie (see News for story)

Coastal Rowing and Touring Australia ("CRATA") is a newly formed club with members in 3 states and a current fleet of 3 boats based in 2 States.

Coastal Rowing is now an internationally endorsed sport through FISA, the World Rowing Organisation. FISA prescribes specifications for the boat class (for singles, doubles and coxed quads/fours) and sanctions the FISA World Coastal Rowing Championships. The sport is well established in Europe; is evolving in North America but is new to Australia. See www.worldrowing.com/index.php?pageid=60

 2008 World Coastal Rowing Championships

The key attributes of coastal rowing boats are their sturdiness, stability and unsinkability. They have sliding seats and use standard oars. They are capable of safely withstanding rough conditions and moderate swells, but are not surf boats and are not suitable for rowing waves. They are suitable for excursion across lakes and off the coast or longer expeditions over a number of days. They can go places that it would be too dangerous to take conventional rowing boats.

CRATA's initial focus will be on the recreational and tour aspects of Coastal Rowing. Racing will be a future development.

Most of our Club's members come from a traditional rowing club background with coastal rowing supplementing their other rowing activities.

Head of the Tweed crew Rachel/ Warwick/ Marion/ Bronwyn/ Creagh finish in record time, the first time a Coastal boat has entered a race in Australia (see News page)  

CRATA's current fleet comprises 3 coxed quads with 2 based in the Brisbane/Noosa area and the other in the Newcastle district. The Queensland boats have had frequent excursions on Moreton Bay the Noosa River, Lake Cootharaba and the Everglades and off the Noosa beaches and National Park. The Newcastle boat is used frequently on the lakes and off the coast of the Newcastle District.

The fleet will grow as membership increses. It will include singles and doubles and boats will be based at other new locations. Plans are being made to base a boat in Townsville and other strategic locations.

 Off Peel Is with the South Stradbroke Island ferry in the background, Crew: Creagh/ Diana/ Warwick/ Lisa/ Bronwyn. 

A calendar is being developed for the boats to be based temporarily at various locations around the country and for expeditions including rows from the Gold Coast to Brisbane, on the Clarence River, Sydney Harbour and perhaps Fraser Island and the Whitsundays. Earlier this year a row was completed from Scarborough Harbour to Caloundra via Deception Bay and the Pumicestone Passage approx 54km.

For information concerning membership email or phone:-

Bronwyn Marler - bronwyn@darvall.com 07 3844 8455; or

Creagh Mecham - cmecham@bigpond.net.au 0400 996 346