Bermuda?s inaugural rowing regatta has been hailed a ?splashing? success.

President of the Bermuda Rowing Association Michael Swain said Sunday?s event at Ferry Reach was just the right start for the new club as 16 crews ? with two people each ? competed for honours in the men?s and women?s divisions racing on a 500-metre sprint course.

?I was extremely happy with the participation and attendance. Lots of people who were passing stopped to watch. Cars stretched for a long way down the road,? said Swain.

The men?s event was a straight final raced in a best-of-three format with Somers Kempe and Jesse DeCouto prevailing while the ladies, who had more entries, were separated into two groups of three for a round-robin competition.

The winners of either group advanced to the final where Carola Cooper and Megan Kempe beat Melanie Claude and Natalie Luthie in a close-fought encounter.

Sports Minister Dale Butler was among the spectators and donated two trophies for the winning teams. In the future, disclosed Swain, these will be raced for by newcomers to the sport.

The president said the association will hold a series of smaller competitions throughout winter which will either be sprint racing or long-distance time trials and next spring they will host more ?Learn to Scull? lessons.