18 March 2026
Bilbao
The headquarters of the Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia (CABB),the regional water authority, hosted the official presentation of the 44th Engineers-Deusto Regatta on 18 March, in an event that highlighted the close connection between the regatta and the Bilbao estuary as a shared focal point of the city, sport, and tradition. As highlighted by Kepa Odriozola, president of CABB and the main sponsor, water is not only a resource but also a unifying element that gives meaning to initiatives of this kind in sport and society.
José María de Gorostiaga, president and founder of the Regatta, highlighted the organisation's sustained commitment to this event over time, underlining the importance of having stable support which has allowed this university sporting event to consolidate and grow.
From the University of Deusto, Peio Azpitarte highlighted the role of sport as a space for meeting and social interaction, while Natalia Alegría, from the School of Engineering, stressed equality as a central pillar of their educational model and its extension to the sporting context of rowing.
Maialen Mielgo, rower and coach at Deusto, noted that the introduction of the mixed format last year has opened the door to a significant increase in female participation. The increase in the number of candidates has made it necessary to carry out demanding selection and training processes, raising the team’s competitive level.
Along the same lines, the Engineers coach Iñigo Martínez de Alegría highlighted the high standard of the participants, with the presence of top-level male and female rowers, and stressed the need to give greater visibility to sweep rowing and to attract more young people to the sport. He acknowledged the toughness of last year’s regatta and the quality of the opposing crew, and pointed to the team’s growth, with strong demand that has required many applicants to be turned away. He also raised the need to improve logistical aspects, such as the availability of spaces for the boats, and defended the mixed eight -already recognised as an Olympic category- as a strong symbol of the regatta, supporting continued progress in this inclusive model.
The press conference once again showed that the Engineers-Deusto Regatta is much more than a competition: it reflects social change, a commitment to equality, and the role of the estuary as a meeting point for sport, the university, and the city.
The regatta will take place on Friday, 27 March. At 18:00, the crews will set off from Erandio and reach the Town Hall bridge after 25–30 minutes. At the Uribitarte quay, the public will be able to watch the regatta live on a large screen. Those unable to attend will be able to follow this historic edition live on Youtube.
