Saints Coastal Regatta
2026 Saints Coastal Regatta will take place over 11 – 12 April at East Sands Beach, St Andrews.
2026 Saints Coastal Regatta
The University of St Andrews Boat Club, in partnership with Saints Sport, is delighted to announce the return of the Saints Coastal Regatta for 2026!
This year’s event will feature both beach sprints and coastal endurance racing, open to all boat classes. Competitors can look forward to side-by-side racing in a unique format, promising fast-paced and thrilling competition on the water. Whether you’re an experienced coastal rower or trying it for the first time, the regatta is designed to be inclusive and welcoming to all skill levels.
Dates:
Saturday 11th April (Beach Sprints)
Sunday 12th April (Coastal Endurance)
Location:
East Sands Beach, St Andrews
Contact us
All Enquiries: [email protected].
Beach Sprints – Saturday 11 April
| Time | Event | Round |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Registration | |
| 8:30 AM | Race Briefing | |
| 9:00-9:30 AM | CM1x | Time Trial |
| 9:30-10:15 AM | CW1x | Time Trial |
| 10:30-11:00 AM | CMix 2x | Time Trial |
| 11:15-12:10 PM | CMix 4x/+ | Side-by-Side |
| 1:00-2:15 PM | CM1x | Side-by-Side |
| 2:15-3:25 PM | CW1x | Side-by-Side |
| 3:45-5:00 PM | CMix 2x | Side-by-Side |
Endurance – Sunday 12 April
| Events | Racing Block |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | Registration |
| 9:30 AM | Race Briefing |
| CM1x (Inc Junior) | Block 1 |
| CW2x (Inc Junior) | Block 1 |
| CW1x (Inc Junior) | Block 2 |
| CM2x (Inc Junior) | Block 2 |
| CMix 2x (Inc Junior) | Block 3 |
| CMix 4x/+ (Inc Junior) |
Block 3 |
Entry Costs
Entries will open on Sunday, 1 March and close on Tuesday, 31 March at 5.00pm.
Entry fees:
- Junior events: £15 per person
- Senior events: £20 per person
All entries should be submitted via the attached spreadsheet, and fees will be paid by invoice to the University of St Andrews Boat Club prior to racing. The event will be conducted in accordance with Scottish Rowing Rules of Racing.
Racing Format and Course Map
Our aim is to create exciting, side-by-side racing for all participants. To achieve this, the format will remain flexible and adapt to the number of entries in each event.
Beach Sprint races will follow a course that includes a 40–50m beach run followed by approximately 250m of straight out-and-back rowing. All events will begin with a Time Trial (TT), featuring a straight out-and-back race with two 90° turns at the end buoy.
The same course will be used throughout the day for all side-by-side racing. During the TT, athletes will slalom out before completing two 90° turns at the top of the course, returning to the beach along the side of Lane 1.
Progression
All events will start with a TT. Following each TT the following progression will be used:
CMix 2x, CM1x, CW1x:Top 8 to Quarter Finals, 9 – 16 to Trophy, 17 – 24 to Plate, 25 – 32 to Bowl, 32+ to Wooden Spoon.
Cmix 4x/+: All crews will race in 2 ranking races side-by-side with another crew. Based on the ranking races, the two crews with fastest combined times will compete in Final A, and crews ranked 3rd and 4th will go into Final B.
Equipment and Rules of racing
All boats will be provided for racing and will be set to standard configurations in accordance with World Rowing rules for Beach Sprints.
Competitors must bring their own blades and boat handling team. If this is an issue, the University of St Andrews has a limited number of blades available for hire at a cost of £10 per set per person, and boat handlers can assist upon request—these arrangements must be made at the time of entry.
For all mixed crews, at least 50% of the crew must be female. Training sessions will be available on Friday, 10 April, from 2:00–5:00 pm by prior arrangement with the organising committee.
Medals and prizes will be awarded to first place in all categories, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medals for events with more than 10 entries. These will be presented at the prize ceremony on Saturday evening and after racing on Sunday for endurance events.
Prize Giving and Party
Following Saturday’s racing, all participants and supporters are invited to a local venue for an evening of celebration. The event will include a prize-giving ceremony, with food and drinks provided free of charge for all competitors. Supporters can purchase tickets on the day. To finish the night in true Scottish style, we’ll host a lively ceilidh to celebrate an incredible day of racing.
Event Accommodation and Travel
If you need assistance finding accommodation, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help. Affordable options are available in Dundee, just a 25-minute drive from St Andrews, with a reliable bus service connecting the two locations. Dundee offers a wide range of accommodation choices that are often more budget-friendly.
St Andrews also benefits from excellent public transport links via Leuchars train station, located only 10 minutes away by bus. From Leuchars, there are direct train services to various destinations, as well as convenient connections for Edinburgh Airport.
Supported by
Event partners
