The competition consisted of two main rounds (heats and finals) as well as a repechage. The 9 boats were divided into two heats for the first round, with 4 or 5 boats in each heat. The first-place boat in each heat (2 boats total) advanced directly to the "A" final. The remaining 7 boats were placed in the repechage. The repechage featured two heats, with 3 or 4 boats in each heat. The top two boats in each repechage heat (4 boats total) advanced to the "A" final, while the remaining 3 boats (3rd and 4th placers in the repechage heats) were sent to the "B" final.
The boats in the "A" final competed for medals and 4th through 6th place; the boats in the "B" final competed for 7th through 9th.[2]
