Expand Your Oar-izons To A World of Rowing

Expand Your Oar-izons To A World of Rowing

Overview of SessionTraveling To RowQ&ARowing When You Travel: Guest RowingWhat is your experience?Summary of findings Q&A

Traveling to Row

A World of Rowing TravelRowing toursWorld Rowing ToursClubs and national federationsPrivate toursCommercial toursRowing eventsOcean & expedition rowingA whole world of boats

Rowing Tours: World Rowing ToursOfficial FISA eventOrganized by one club but with support and sanctioning by national federation

Have to apply; FISA limits numbers per countryTypically 60 rowers from 12 19 nations. FISA familyEnormous volunteer component

Row coxed touring or coastal quads, sometimes church boatsCaptain assigned to each boat, other rowers always changingLots of rowing daily distance of 25+ km for a week, with one rest day

Often in Europe, but have been in Argentina, Australia, Canada and twice in USARecent: Austria; Italy; Germany; Ireland, Canada2017 tour will be 16-24 September from Cinque Terre to Genoa. Entries will close 15 March 2017

Club and National FederationsOntario Adventure Rowing Association includes a tour in Florida in the winter http://adventurerowing.ca/ French have the best organized and longest running slate of trips http://avironfrance.fr/pratiquer-aviron/programmes-federaux/circuit-randon-avironNow publish material in English A suite of 45 day, weekend and multiday trips across FranceBritish National Rowing TourIrish National Rowing Tour

Example: Gorges de Verdon

Rowing Tourism as Club DevelopmentRowing to travel and travelling to row can be a motivation to continue to train and row beyond competition. How can this assist clubs as well as individuals?

Example: FISA Development Rowing Tour - MaldivesPartnership between World Rowing, Rowing The World and Rowing Association of the MaldivesFISA has had long term plan to develop rowing in Maldives: donation of boats and coachesNeed for sources of cash for many expenses: rowing tourism

Model with application elsewhereDevelopment tourTest conceptIdentify guidesFurther toursConfirm best productFurther guide trainingLocally run trips without foreign tour operator likely shorter and more local

Individual clubs in USA and Canada could run weekend or other trips as fund-raisers for the club or a specific program.

Private Tours: Example Oslo FjordsGood organizers whom you know

Great rowing friends

Not just rowing

But it is about the rowing

Commercial ToursRowing The World: http://www.rowingtheworld.com/ iRow Tours: http://irowtours.com/ Terralba: http://www.rowingvacations.com/ Many campsCraftsbury: http://www.craftsbury.com/sculling/sculling-camps/sculling-home/ Florida Rowing Center: http://www.floridarowingcenter.com/

Rowing Events11 City Marathon NetherlandsBilac SwitzerlandRallaye du Canal de Midi FranceVogalonga ItalyGreat River Race EnglandMurray River Rowathon AustraliaOne time only: Magna Carta Relay June 2015, River Thames

Example #1 - Bilac 16Classic Swiss event/race32 km two lakes and a river in between68 boats

Example #2 - Magna Carta RelayOrganized in June 2015 to celebrate 800th anniversaryKing John rowed to an island in River Thames to sign the Magna Carta, so principle celebration was a two day event down the river by rowed craft.

A Whole World of BoatsCoastalChurch boats (Finland, Germany)Fixed SeatCornish Pilot Gig (UK)Cots and many similiar (Ireland) Whaling Boats (USA)Thames Skiff (UK)Thames Cutter (UK)Row Barge - Gloriana (UK)St. Ayles Skiff (Canada, UK, Ireland)Surfboats (Australia)Canot Glace (Qubec) And then there are ocean expeditions .

Questions? Comments?

Rowing When You Travel: Guest RowingWhat is your experience?Summary of findingsQ&A

QuestionsHow you guest rowed somewhere? What did you need to do? How was the experience?If you have not guest rowed yet, why not? What are the barriers?Does your club permit guest rowing? What do you require (e.g. credentials, fees, etc.)? How often have you accepted guests? How did you find the experience?If your club does not permit guest rowing, why not?

Guest RowingRow when you travelIt adds a meaningful dimension to experience rowing somewhere other than your home clubNot that common and easy Following points from: Internet researchLinkedIn rowing group discussionPersonal experience

Key themes:Many clubs are not prepared for guest rowing requests. Those that are most prepared seem to be where there is demand: Warm winter destinations like Florida; Locations where there are famous regattas such as Henley-on-Thames and San Diego; Iconic travel locations with beautiful bodies of water, such as Florence.

The most common policies and procedures are:Must sign a waiver or Release & Indemnity Especially in the USA and Canada. Must be in a boat with an experienced rower from the club and cannot bow. Some waterways, such as the Thames in London, have very strict rules regarding patterns of travel, but most clubs have directions and requirements to avoid collisions and learning and adhering to this is essential.

Proof of rowing abilityMembership in a clubCurrent national federation number.

Some clubs are very informal and trusting We accept guest's explanation of qualifications. In 14 years we haven't had anyone misrepresent and we haven't had any equipment damages fortunately.Costs or fees varyOften free, especially for the first few rowsConsidered reciprocal or paying it forward.

How to be a guest rowerNot everyone is confident enough to approach a club for a guest row it can be intimidating. Researching the club and selecting one that is aligned with your rowing experience (especially recreational vs. racing) makes it easier.What can it be like?:https://youtu.be/qqHxwK7fYlI

It can be Oar-some!The most common negative experience is the absence of any reply to a request.Most experiences are positive, particularly when the club is organized and the guest is prepared for new experiences.

Examples of clear guest rowing policies and proceduresEdmonton Rowing Club (Alberta, Canada) http://www.edmontonrowing.ca/?page_id=3319 Sarasota County Rowing Club (Florida, USA) http://www.sarasotacountyrowingclub.com/page/show/2288539-guests Winnipeg Rowing Club (Manitoba, Canada) https://winnipegrowingclub.ca/member-info/policies-and-procedures/guest-rower-policy/ San Diego Rowing Club (California, USA) http://sandiegorowing.org/guest/ Henley Rowing Club (England, UK) http://www.henleyrowingclub.co.uk/visiting-crews/

Get out there, travel and row!Thank you!

Ruth MarrRowing The World &The Rowing Conciergewww.rowingtheworld.com ruth@marrcc.com or ruth@rowingtheworld.com http://www.rowingtheworld.com/https://www.facebook.com/rowingtheworld