MORE than 350 rowers from around the globe are descending on Guernsey this weekend for the British and World Coastal Rowing Challenge. The two-day regatta is the biggest such event to be held in the Channel Islands. The organisers had initially hoped for 600 rowers but they are content with the number they have got.

‘As always, we would have liked more people, but we’ve got competitors coming from New Zealand who are bringing their own boats and that’s a fantastic achievement,’ said Guernsey Rowing Club vice-captain Tim Prout.

Entrants are also coming from Bulgaria, Hong Kong, Dubai, Bermuda, Holland, France, Wales, Ireland and the UK.

The area by the model yacht pond is being transformed into a rowing village to accommodate the visiting rowers.

The New Zealanders include Nina Reid, who finished second in the singles at last year’s World Coastal Challenge in Noli, Italy, and the Guernsey event has generated a lot of media attention in New Zealand where they are hosting the World Rowing Championships in 2010.

Rumour has it that the Kiwis are also looking to host the offshore version in the same year.

‘There is a large contingent of New Zealand media, including Sky TV, coming to Guernsey to report back on their local rowers, as the New Zealand Rowing Federation has been granted the 2010 World (2,000m) Champion-ship,’ said Prout.

Not only does Guernsey have the honour of hosting the World Coastal Rowing Challenge, but the island was also chosen for the inaugural British competition as well. That takes place on Saturday, while Sunday sees the ‘worlds’.

Both competitions use the same format.

The men’s race is over 12km while the women undergo an 8km course around the Little Russel.

The start line for both is off the Yacht Club hut on Castle Cornet.

The rowers then head south across the mouth of Havelet Bay, then east to Lower Heads, on to Herm and lastly back towards Guernsey with the finish in Havelet.

On Saturday and Sunday the women begin at 10.30am followed by the men at 2pm.

The GRC will be looking to pick up medals courtesy of their top crews Nova Group in the men’s fours and Geomarine in the women’s fours.

Ben Byrom and Stewart Briggs should also be within a shout each of success in the singles.

Prout reckons the weekend, which has been largely supported by the Insurance Corporation, Royal London Asset Management, Invesco Fund Managers and Nautical Guernsey, will be a great spectacle for people to watch from the Havelet Bay walls.

‘I certainly hope the weather is going to be fine,’ he said.

‘Come down and watch the club do well.’