Three of the six boats remain unchanged from last season; the men’s heavyweight four (M4-), and the women’s lightweight double (LW2x) that both finished 7th at last year’s World Championships, alongside Dubliner Sean Casey in the heavyweight single scull (M1x).
The lightweight four (LM4-) that claimed bronze at last year’s World Championships sees one change with Richard Coakley, younger brother of Eugene, coming in to replace Gearoid Towey, who is not competing this season. Tim Harnedy, who partnered Richard Coakley in the lightweight men’s double last season is unavailable for selection at the moment due to injury, so head coach Jahrling has decided not to send a boat in that particular class.
Irish heavyweight rowing continues to flourish under the stewardship of Jahrling and his team with two new Irish boats travelling to the World Cups; a women’s double (W2x), and a men’s quad (M4x). A team consisting of four boats was also announced for the Under 23 World Championships, which take place in Scotland in July.
The overall World Cup champions are determined after a series of three regattas (Linz, Amsterdam and Lucerne in July) with the centrepiece of the International season the World Championships in Munich, Germany beginning August 20th, which, this year also serve as the major Olympic qualifying event.
