LEARN TO ROW

The OWRC Sculling Program is designed to introduce beginners, sweep rowers and experienced skullers to the sport of open water rowing, while emphasizing water safety, physical fitness, teamwork, personal responsibility, and respect for the marine environment.

Located on Richardson Bay in Sausalito, California, OWRC provides a unique opportunity for rowers to develop sculling skills and progressively advance toward rowing in the challenging conditions of San Francisco Bay.

Safety is the highest priority of the Open Water Rowing Center. All training activities will be conducted under the direct supervision of qualified rowing coaches and in accordance with established individual protection and boating safety policies as defined by the US Rowing, World Rowing Association and the US Coast Guard. 

OWRC is in an ideal location on San Francisco Bay to provide training in the following areas: 

  • Youth training in all categories of rowing and competition, ages 12-18. 

  • Beginning Learn to Row programs for adults of all ages. 

  • Transition training to open water and coastal rowing for experienced flat-water rowers.

  • Progressive training for rowers to become more experienced in dynamic conditions on San Francisco Bay, including the provision to venture to the Golden Gate Bridge and Angel Island.  

  • Advanced training for rowers desiring to explore areas beyond the Golden Gate. 

  • For the rower seeking a competitive new sport, training is available for all age groups for Coastal Rowing Competition (New in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games). 

 
 

COURSE: LEARN TO ROW FOR BEGINNERS

Learn to row solo in Sausalito Harbor in five 90-minute sessions with a USRowing-certified coach. You will become proficient in the proper rowing stroke, boat handling on shore and on the water, important water safety topics, and how to navigate safely in the waters of Sausalito.

Completing the five-sessions does not guarantee sign-off by the coach to take a boat out on your own, but the vast majority of students achieve this milestone in their five sessions. A small percentage of students need an additional hour or two of private instruction to get signed-off.

Cost for all 5 sessions, including use of boat and oars:
Individual: $750
Group of two: $500 / person
(Private instruction, if needed at $125 / hour - boat and oars included.)
Call or email the office to schedule: 1.415.332.1091 / owrc@owrc.com

Prerequisite - Swimming Qualification:
Before starting the course, you will need to demonstrate swimming competency through an assessment supervised by a qualified lifeguard or other appropriately certified aquatic safety professional. 

After Graduation:
After a coach signs-off, graduates will receive a complimentary three-month OWRC club membership and rental pass to encourage frequent practice immediately following your course so you can lock in and enjoy those new skills!

COURSE: OPEN WATER TRANSITION – FOR EXPERIENCED FLAT-WATER SCULLERS

If you already know how to scull, you just need to demonstrate your sculling proficiency and learn the additional skills that are unique to open water rowing and the local waters of Sausalito and Richardson Bay. We will focus on slight changes to the rowing stroke and oar handling when the water is rough. We will also cover all of the safety topics that are unique to rough water, currents, wind and navigating in congested waterways. We can usually cover this material and get you signed-off by your USRowing-certified coach in two 90-minute sessions. It is the coach’s discretion if more private instruction is needed for the transition training.

Cost for both sessions, including use of boat and oars:
Individual: $300
(Private instruction, if needed at $125 / hour - boat and oars included.)
Call or email the office to schedule: 1.415.332.1091 / owrc@owrc.com

Sweep Rowers:
If you are an experienced sweep rower, but don’t yet know how to scull, we encourage you to sign-up for the beginner course above. You will have a jumpstart on true beginners, since you already know the rowing stroke, but learning to handle two sculling oars is a skill worth learning from the very beginning to lock in great habits.

Prerequisite - Swimming Qualification:
Before starting the course, you will need to demonstrate swimming competency through an assessment supervised by a qualified lifeguard or other appropriately certified aquatic safety professional. 

After Graduation:
After a coach signs-off, you will receive a complimentary three-month OWRC club membership and rental pass to get out and enjoy sculling in the waters of Sausalito.