The competition consisted of two main rounds (heats and finals) as well as a repechage. The 10 boats were divided into two heats for the first round, with 5 boats in each heat. The winner of each heat advanced directly to the "A" final (1st through 6th place). The remaining 8 boats were placed in the repechage. Two heats were held in the repechage, with 4 boats in each heat. The top two boats in each heat of the repechage went to the "A" final as well. The remaining 4 boats (3rd and 4th placers in the repechage heats) competed in the "B" final for 7th through 10th place.[2]