Day 6 starts with C/D Semifinals of Women’s Single followed by Men’s Double and Lightweight Men’s Four B-Finals.
The A/B Semifinals start at 10:10 with the Men’s Four. The first race is a big one as the two favourites and big rivals Australia and Great Britain meet each other for the first time at this regatta. These two will expect to race away and there will be a big race on for third place and a starting place in the A-final. Tactics will be interesting. GB and Australia may keep their powder dry and avoid having to wind for the finish. Expect these two to race each other to 1000m if not more. In the second semifinal the USA, Germany and Canada will hope to take the first three places but could see some real challenges from the other crews.
SF1: SRB NED AUS GBR BLR ITA SF2: CAN ROU USA GER GRE NZL
In the Lightweight Women’s Double, Greece and GB meet in the first race. Germany qualified through the heats. The USA came through the repechage with a fast performance and New Zealand are strong too. In the second semifinal, heat winners Denmark and China will race the fast starting Australians and fast-finishing Canadians.
SF1: NZL GER GBR GRE USA CUB SF2: JPN NED DEN CHN AUS CAN
The Men’s Lightweight Double semi’s follow. The two fastest winners from the heats, Denmark and Italy, meet in the first race. New Zealand could have been saving something in their first race and will try to surprise these two heat winners. Great Britain showed they’re back on form in the heats but face Norway who were second fastest overall. The French had a fairly easy route through to the final so their true speed is unknown in this regatta.
SF1: GRE NZL ITA DEN GER JPN SF2: CUB NOR GBR FRA POR HUN
The big names race off for final places in the Women’s Single semifinals. Australia’s Kim Crow has not lost a race at this regatta despite doubling-up in single and double. She will try to continue that record after having a rest day on day 5. Crow won’t have it easy against the Czech sculler, Knapkova, and Karsten from Belarus. Five of the scullers in the second semifinal were separated by just over two seconds in the quarterfinals. Azebaijan’s Mustafayeva will likely be trailing a close fight in the main pack.
SF1: LTU BLR CZE AUS RUS GER SF2: SWE USA CHN DEN NZL AZE
The finals start with the Men’s Double. Rowing legends, Spik and Cop from Slovenia meet Argentina in the centre lanes. These two crews were only half a second apart on time in the quarterfinals. The Kiwis showed a big sprint finish in the last round and may look to move through and sneak a win in the red buoys. The quarterfinals showed that none of these crews can be written off. The whole field was separated by 3 seconds.
Start List: GBR LTU SLO ARG NZL ITA
From one close race to an even closer one, with the Men’s Lightweight Four next. This will be a blanket finish and predictions would be very brave. The GB crew have been strong and fluid in their earlier races and went fastest in the quarterfinals but Denmark started fast and cruised in. Rates will be high and margins small. Anything can happen.
Start List: NED SUI GBR DEN RSA AUS
The Women’s Eight end the day with what will surely be another exciting final. USA and Canada are big rivals and have been very close this season in the World Cups. The USA boat run beautifully with huge power. The Canadians went faster in the heats but were pushed much closer by Romania than Australia managed against the US. The Netherlands won the repechage with GB taking the last place in the final. The North American battle will be the big focus. However, as we saw in the men’s race, an outsider could sneak through as these two race each other.
Start List: AUS NED USA CAN ROU GBR
