Explore Rowing

Ten thousand adults will have the chance to try rowing or get back onto the water thanks to a new Sport England funded programme launched by Sir Steve Redgrave this week.

The Explore Rowing programme, run by British Rowing as part of its Whole Sport Plan, will make it easier for non-competitive rowers to enjoy the sport. Fifty ‘stable boat’ packages, each worth £25,000 will be installed across the country. These boats are not only easier for beginners to use but are also ideal for many rowing activities such as touring, allowing those who are coming to the end of their competitive rowing career to stay involved.

Participants will be connected to rowers throughout the country through a social network on the new website, http://www.explorerowing.org where they will be able to share routes, personal challenges and ideas with a growing online community.

At the launch event at Henley, Sir Steve said, “Explore Rowing is a really innovative programme – it challenges preconceptions and most importantly reminds us what a wonderful, fun, healthy and accessible sport rowing really is.”

“It’s great to see rowing rising to the challenge of getting more adults out on the water, from older people who feared their rowing days were behind them to those who’ve never before considered getting into a boat,” said Jennie Price. “With the Olympic and Paralympic Games round the corner, there’s never been a better time to take this sport to a wider audience.”

The initiative is an adaptation of the successful Project Oarsome programme, launched in 2000, which led to a significant increase in junior participation.

“Project Oarsome had a massive impact, extending the reach of the sport into 40% of state schools throughout the country,” said British Rowing’s National Manager, Rosemary Napp. “We hope that Explore Rowing can do the same for those over 16 - opening up the sport to a wider range of participants.”

You can find out more information about Explore Rowing on the new website, www.explorerowing.org/