Are rowing classes always required for beginners before membership and being part of a team?

Where you take what you’ve learnt is completely up to you.

You may decide that rowing is just not for you or you can’t or don’t want to commit any time to it. Generally though, we find that many people who do the course really do enjoy it and want to go further with it.

Option 1.

Join the club as a social member which allows you to come down on Saturday mornings and be a part of the social rowing scene where whoever turns up gets allocated into a boat and you set off up the river for a social row – usually followed by breakfast and a chat at the local café.

Option 2.

Join the club as an Active Social Member and row as often as you like during the week and Saturdays with other active social rowers who regularly attend the social rowing sessions.

Option 3.

Join as a Competitive Rower and become part of a crew that trains a bit more seriously during the week to maximize fitness and dramatically improve technique.

As a Competitive Rower you can row in regattas that are held by Rowing WA during the season which runs from May through to September each year.

There are two types of regattas which are called Pennants and Masters.

With Pennants you row in races according to your own ability and that of your crew. That level is determined by your results at previous regattas. In other words you start at the bottom and work your way up.

With Masters you row in races according to your age (min 27 years old) or the average age of your crew members.

You can also row in mixed crews (Men & Women together). Masters rowing is a lot of fun and not quite as demanding as pennants.

A regatta timetable is available on the Rowing WA website.