1. 8.-11.7.2010 Sulkava Finland

2. General information  The World Master Rowing will be organized conjunction with Sulkava Rowing Race  Sulkava Rowing Race will be organized for the 43. times next summer. Each year around 8,000 rowers take part in this Finland´s greatest rowing event.  The race will have rowers around the world  The race will be rowed with special Sulkava long Boats, not any other boats  This competition is not an official FISA (International Rowing Federation) event

3. General information  The World Master Rowing will be organized for the first time, so there are many challenges and all the promoting and marketing are very important for this new event  World Master Rowing event is very unique event, because of the Sulkava Long Boats and the mass of visitors (over 20 000 visitors expected)

4. Location  Sulkava is located in Eastern Finland  Sulkava is about 120 kilometers from Russian border  Cities nearby: Savonlinna, Mikkeli and Lappeenranta

5. History of Sulkava Long Boats  Church boat is a traditional Finnish long wooden rowing boat, with which our ancestors rowed long distances to the holy mass every Sunday. The early model for the Finnish church boats were the large boats of Scandinavian Vikings  The timber for the church boat was carefully chosen at the beginning of the year. The boat building process took place in spring. Tall straight pines and spruces were hand-sawed into boards. Arches were made of juniper or ash. When the boat was finished, it was treated several times with tar, painting did not became common until in the later days of the traditional church boat.

8. Sulkava Long Boats nowadays  The race will be rowed with special Sulkava Long Boats  Sulkava Long Boat is wooden, 12 meter boat, which have 14 sliding benches and 14 wooden oars.  Boat weight is approximately 350 kilogramss  Boat should have 14 rowers and a coxswain. Each rower will row with one oar.  The boat rent for WMRowing event is only: 122 eur/start = 5358 ruplas

9. Starts and programm  Thursday 8.7.2010: 2000 meters race 10.00 coxswain presentation 13.00 preliminary race (rowing against time, teams with best times can row on the finals) 16.00/17.00 Finals 19.00 Opening ceremony and award ceremony

10. Starts  Sunday 11.7.2010: 60 kilometers 9.30 60 kilometers around Partalansaari island in the Lake Saimaa (tooks about 4-5 hours to row) After the final team has arrived in the finish line, there will be award ceremony

12. Teams  The World Master Rowing competition is open to teams from countries all around the world.  Teams in the open series involve a crew of 15 which may be made up of representatives of both sexes.  Teams are not necessarily obliged to have their own cox, as a Finnish cox can be supplied by the competition organisers upon request.  There can be many teams from the same country, no limits

13. Entry fees Entry fee for the 2,000 metre race is 25 euros/person. Entry fee for the 60 kilometre race is 40 euros/person. The entry fee covers rowing fee, organisers´ liability insurance, list of participants, catering, Finnish sauna, medal, diploma and transport by bus for the 60 kilometre rowers from Sulkava to Hakovirta. The entry fee is inclusive of VAT. If required, the competition organisers will obtain Sulkava long boats for team use.

14. Registration  Registration form is on our web sites, the form must be completed in full and after sending it, teams must pay the participation fees  Rowing crews should advise whether they require the event organiser to supply a Sulkava long boat or whether they will be using their own. No boats other than Sulkava long boats are permitted to take part in the World Master Rowing competition.  Registrations until 30.04.2010.

15. Travel Packages The event organizer can also help teams to find accommodation, transportation and other programme service during their visit in Sulkava. The travel packages must be booked and paid until 30.04.2010.

16. Awards  The three best teams in both competitions will be awarded cash prizes and medals.  The organisation also presents an award to the best team (based on final results) which has participated in both events (2000 metre and 60 kilometre) with the exact same crew. If two or more teams finish with the same ranking points, the results of the 60 kilometre race will determine the winner.  All teams will receive participation medals and diplomas.  The cash awards total sum is 12.000 euros

17. Promoting the event  We are hoping to get help from you promoting this event for Russian rowers and adding its visibility in Russia.  Cooperation models would be important for us  Hopefully many Russian teams will come to Sulkava!

18. THANK YOU!