Calling on Adult Coastal Explorers!

Kia ora to all current and former club members, as well as local rowers!

Please express your interest here: Registration Link.

We’ve had coastal rowing boats at our club for a year and a half now! You can read more about it here: Coastal Rowing Boats. We’ve enjoyed some great times rowing on the harbor and during the Swift Racing New Zealand Coastal Rowing Beach Sprint Championships we hosted in May.

Now, we want to form a group of adults who have experience in rowing to establish a squad dedicated to taking the coastal boats out to sea. Our goal is to explore local beaches and bays, and potentially transport the boats on a trailer to discover various coastlines and lakes across the North Island.

We have applied for a grant to acquire safety equipment, including inflatable life jackets, flares, and marine EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons). Regardless of the grant outcome, we can still venture out, provided we have an inflatable safety boat accompanying us.

To proceed, we need to enhance our rowing skills to include coxswain duties in the coastal quad and operation of the safety boat. This way, we can take out the coastal quad with four rowers, while the coxswain and up to two individuals in the safety boat can alternate rowing. We could also bring the coastal double if conditions are calm.

Imagine enjoying a picnic at a secluded beach or rowing to Mana Island! How about a coffee at Pauatahanui? Alternatively, rowers could drive to a designated meeting spot and swap out. The possibilities are endless!

Before we begin, we need to establish safety procedures and skill development.

What’s next?

Please fill out this form to let us know your interest and how you can contribute. I will reach out to everyone afterward.

Cheers,

Tony

P.S. Non-members can find information about joining options here: Joining Options. Note that prior rowing experience is required to join this group. If you lack experience, please enroll in the upcoming adults learn-to-row course, which will be promoted in our newsletter soon.

P.P.S. Current club student rowers: our focus will be on developing skills and procedures for safe coastal exploration. There may be opportunities for you later, but your primary focus will be on rowing skiffs this season.

Please express your interest here: Registration Link.