Learn to Row

A yearly membership in New Whatcom Rowing includes an introduction to open-water rowing. This includes getting you familiar with the equipment and terminology, safety requirements and getting you on the water for your first taste of open-water rowing. Once a club instructor deems you safe on the water, you can increase your confidence and knowledge during Wet Tuesdays or by contacting the rowing instructors for a checkout of the club boats so you can row on your own.

New Whatcom Rowing has two certified USRowing instructors:

• Jim Steadman
• Dale McKinnon

Club members may contact either of the two to arrange one-on-one instruction at $25/hr ($40/hr for non-members).
Instruction of two or more individuals (maximum of 4 in a group) lowers the hourly club rate to $15/hr per person ($25/hr for non-members).

In addition, the Bellingham Bay Community Boating Center will offer rowing instruction from April to October. To learn more about this new resource to Whatcom County residents, click here.

How to Row Rough Water

Many people have asked if there is a way to successfully row in choppy waters, and yes, there is.
Sherwin Smith (who started the Open Water Rowing Center in Sausalito, CA) has written a complete description of how, and why you need to relax and shorten up your stroke in difficult seas. Although Smith wrote the information specifically for open-water shells, the technique applies to rowers in dories, wherries, etc.

Wet Tuesdays

Wet Tuesdays are open only to club members with memberships paid in full. If you would like to get a taste of open-water rowing on a Wet Tuesday, please contact NWRowing to make arrangements for a row in the "club double." There will be periodic Introductory Rows for the public through the summer of 2009 in cooperation with the Bellingham Bay Community Boating Center and announced through press releases and this website.