Lynne competing in the 2022 Open Ocean Regatta.
You’ve probably spotted Lynne Miller on the water – he rows a 20-ft white Wherry rowboat. He’s also 6’ 2” with a thatch of white hair so he stands out beyond the boat. Lynne became a rower after sailing, speed skating, skiing, and cycling. He even tried out for the Olympic team in speed skating.
Lynne learned to row at OWRC from a Danish guy with a serious hangover. (These were the 90s.) He quickly took to the sport but didn’t like the usual options: an Aero, a 24, “or a Pocock.” He says he just didn’t feel comfortable. That left him with rowboats.
Thankfully the club had recently acquired a Whitehall, which became Lynne’s vessel of choice. “I rowed that thing pretty hard and got the techniques down.” He followed some other long-time club members including Carolyn Novesel. “I learned a lot from watching her,” he says. “She knew I was following her. I would get close, and she would row harder.”
When he finally committed to the sport, Lynn found a blue Wherry on Craigslist. He was on the fence initially, but his wife urged him to make the decision right then and there. It set him back $2,000. After getting the boat Lynne faced a little pushback. For OWRC, it wasn’t a shell, but Lynne convinced them he could fit the boat in one of the rolling racks and the rest is history. You can thank Lynne for breaking the ceiling on traditional boats in a non-traditional boat setting.
Lynne at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay with past OWRC instructor, Arianna Churchill.
Lynne’s favorite routes are to Cavallo Point or Cone Rock—anywhere between 5 and 8 miles. His partner on the water is usually Carl Robinette who bought Lynne’s old Wherry when he moved up to the 20-footer.
Despite being a Sausalito Yacht Club member for 52 years, Lynne is finally ready to admit that he’s more of a rower. But he still races sailboats from time to time and will probably never stop calling himself a sailor. Because of his connection, it’s Lynne you can thank for setting up a reciprocal membership for OWRC members to come over to the Sausalito Yacht Club for a meal and a view.
After a lifetime of adventure, Lynne has branched out in other ways. The almost native San Franciscan – he was born in the UK but moved to the city at 10 – runs House of Bagpipes. (Bet you didn’t see that one coming.) The shop is devoted to all thing’s bagpipes, and Lynn services instruments from around the world. He also teaches a bagpipe class on Wednesday evenings at Piedmont Adult School.
If you’re in the mood for your own Lynne-style adventure, head down to the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. Lynne has a team of bagpipers that play every day from one hour before sunset to sunset. If you’re lucky, Lynne will be playing too. “It’s pretty spectacular.”