OUR PROGRAMS

For those new to the sport, our Learn to Row programmes provide a structured introduction to rowing. Participants learn the fundamentals of rowing through a combination of land-based and on-water training, including rowing technique, boat handling, and water safety. Many people continue rowing because of the fitness benefits, personal achievements, and strong friendships they develop along the way.

If you have rowed before, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch and we can discuss your previous experience and help find the best programme to suit your skills and goals. For safety reasons, some returning rowers may be asked to complete parts of our Learn to Row programme before progressing to other club activities.

Option 1 – Our introductory Learn to Row course held around the end of term 2/start of term 3 and consists of 7-8 training sessions over four weeks. Sessions are held on one weekday evening and one weekend morning, allowing participants to develop their skills through a combination of land-based and on-water training. 

Option 2 – At the end of Term 3, we also offer a dedicated Secondary School Learn to Row Programme for students. This four-week course includes two evening training sessions during the week and one weekend morning sessions each week, (sometimes two if weather is looking good) providing a more intensive introduction to competitive rowing.

We highly recommend participants who are wanting to continue their development and join the club, attend our four-day training camp, typically held in Whanganui during the school holidays. The camp provides valuable rowing experience, helps build friendships within the squad, and is an excellent preparation for the upcoming season.

Occassionally if there is demand, we may run an adults only course early in the New Year.

Our Club Rowing programme provides opportunities for rowers to train, race, and develop their skills throughout the rowing season. The main club racing season typically runs from October through to February, with regattas held throughout the lower North Island and beyond. Whether your goal is to improve your fitness, race with friends, or compete at a high level, club rowing offers a rewarding and challenging experience.

New rowers entering competition are classified as Novice rowers and compete against other novice crews from around New Zealand. A rower remains a novice for their first season only, regardless of how many races they participate in. In their second season, they automatically progress to the Intermediate grade. There are no age restrictions for Club rowing.

Depending on your goals and commitment, you may have the opportunity to compete at the New Zealand Rowing Championships in February, the pinnacle event of the domestic rowing season. Many rowers enjoy competing locally, while others choose to pursue higher levels of competition and performance. Following strong performances at major regattas, rowers progress through the grades of Intermediate, Club, Senior, and ultimately Premier.

Following the conclusion of the club season, secondary school rowers focus on representing their schools at secondary school regattas, culminating in the prestigious Maadi Regatta held each March, which is the largest secondary school sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere. For many athletes, qualifying for and competing at the Maadi Regatta is the highlight of the rowing season, where months of hard work, teamwork, commitment, and training come together on New Zealand’s biggest secondary school rowing stage. 

At Porirua Rowing Club, we are proud to work with students from a wide range of schools and backgrounds and have rowers at Kapiti College, Paraparaumu College, Aotea College, Tawa College, and Mana College, who love to row for our Club and their school. We also have members from other schools, including St Mary’s College and Wellington Girls’ College. Please note that if your school already operates a rowing programme affiliated with another rowing club, we are generally unable to enter rowers from that school into secondary school regattas. The exception is regattas that permit composite crews, which allows athletes to compete for another school. 

At many rowing clubs, secondary school rowing programmes are operated primarily by individual schools. These clubs often have a limited capacity and can only accommodate a certain number of schools and rowers. As a result, some students may miss out if they are not selected by their school programme or they are unable to commit to the training schedule required. While these athletes race under the club’s colours during the club season, they often remain separated into their individual school squads for training and competition.

At Porirua Rowing Club, we take a different approach. Our rowing programme is run by the club, bringing students from multiple schools together to train, race, and develop as one rowing community. We see ourselves as a club first, creating opportunities for athletes from different backgrounds to build friendships, learn from one another, and enjoy being part of a larger team. This approach allows us to offer rowing opportunities to a wider range of students while fostering a strong sense of club culture and belonging. Whether students are aiming to represent their school, compete nationally, or simply enjoy the experience of being part of a crew, Porirua Rowing Club provides the coaching, equipment, facilities, and supportive environment to help them achieve their goals both on and off the water.

At Porirua Rowing Club, our masters rowers prove that rowing is truly a lifelong sport that can be enjoyed at any age. Masters rowing provides opportunities for adults to enjoy the sport in a way that suits their goals, whether that’s staying fit, enjoying time on the water, socialising with friends, or competing at regattas. There is no upper age limit for rowing, and many people either continue rowing well into later life or discover the sport for the first time as adults.

While masters rowers can compete in the same club grades as other adult athletes, they also have the option of participating in dedicated masters events. In New Zealand, rowers become eligible for masters competition in the year they turn 27. Masters racing is divided into age categories based on the average age of the crew, ranging from Category A (27 years and over) through to Category K (85 years and over).

Masters regattas are typically raced over 1,000 metres rather than the 2,000-metre distance used in most club competitions. The masters rowing calendar includes a number of regattas throughout the year, with the season extending beyond the traditional summer rowing season and culminating at the New Zealand Masters Rowing Championships each September. These events bring together rowers from across the country to enjoy competition, camaraderie, and a shared passion for the sport.

Recreational rowing is designed for adults and secondary school students who want to enjoy the benefits of rowing without the commitment of regular competition. It is ideal for those looking to improve their health and fitness, spend time on the water, and be part of a welcoming club community. It is also a great option for students who would like additional time to develop their skills before moving into competitive crews, or for those who enjoy rowing but are unable to commit to the training and racing schedule required for competition.

For many members, the social aspect of rowing is just as important as the exercise. Recreational rowing brings people together through shared experiences, teamwork, and a love of being on the water. Whether rowing in a crew boat, exploring the harbour, or catching up with fellow members after a session, recreational rowing provides an enjoyable way to stay active while building friendships and connections within the club.

At Porirua Rowing Club, recreational rowers can participate at a pace that suits their lifestyle and goals. Without the demands of a regatta calendar, members have greater flexibility to row when it suits them while still developing their skills and fitness. Whether you’re looking for a new way to exercise, stay connected with the rowing community, or simply enjoy time on the water, recreational rowing offers a fun, supportive, and rewarding pathway within our club.

Coastal rowing is an exciting and rapidly growing discipline of the sport that takes rowing beyond sheltered waterways and onto open water. Using specially designed boats, rowers can safely navigate waves, swell, and changing conditions while exploring coastlines and enjoying a unique connection with the marine environment. It offers a different challenge to traditional flat-water rowing and appeals to both experienced rowers and those looking for a new adventure.

Coastal rowing can be enjoyed recreationally or competitively. Recreational rowers can participate in scenic tours and explore areas that are often inaccessible to traditional rowing boats, while competitive athletes can test themselves in endurance races and the fast-growing discipline of beach sprint racing. Beach sprints combine running, boat handling, and rowing in an exciting format where competitors race from the beach, around offshore buoys, and back to shore.

At Porirua Rowing Club, coastal rowing is an area we are actively developing. With direct access to the waters of Titahi Bay and the wider Wellington coastline, we are well positioned to introduce members to this exciting discipline. We also host one round of the New Zealand Beach Sprint Series at Titahi Bay Beach, providing opportunities for both new and experienced rowers to experience coastal rowing competition close to home.