If you enjoy frustrating rowing, cold water, long distances, and spectacular scenery, then open-water rowing is for you. It expanded my idea of what the sport has to offer, a new way to experience the challenges of Puget Sound. I was fortunate to team up with experienced folks from Lake Washington Rowing Club who helped me embrace this brave new world.
Squaxin Island race course with the Olympic Mountains as a backdrop
One of the many benefits of rowing in the Pacific Northwest is the strong open-water rowing community. The Sound Rowers and Paddlers race series, which takes place across Western Washington, offers a variety of courses and distances. These laid-back races typically launch from local waterfront parks and marinas, providing a “relaxed” racing experience. The ethos is more about showing up and getting challenged by the conditions than competing against elite crews.
Rat Island race day vibes
I participated in four of the Sound Rowers and Paddlers races this season. The first two races, La Conner and Squaxin Island, were exceptionally flat and didn’t live up to the 'open-water' experience. In the third race, the Rat Island Regatta, I finally got what was promised. We encountered true open-water conditions: unpredictable swells, ferry channels, and stiff winds. More than a mile from shore, in the middle of the race course, I realized just how serious these races could get. The racing conditions demanded a new level of focus.
ACTUAL open water rowing - Rat Island
My doubles partner, Josh, and I capped off our racing season by competing in the Bainbridge Island Marathon, one of the longest races, which circumnavigates all 26 miles of Bainbridge Island’s coastline. We completed the full marathon to put an exclamation point on the season. The most difficult part was the last two miles of unpredictable swell, which rocked us back and forth on our hard plastic seats. By the end, my sore glutes were screaming.
After the marathon
Also, after the marathon
Less than perfect rowing.
Evan Jacobs instilled this wisdom in me: Open-water rowing isn’t about taking the perfect stroke; it’s about taking the best possible stroke. This really resonates. There were races this year where conditions simply didn’t allow for perfect strokes. Patience is a virtue in open water—you’re bound to take some terrible strokes, and your only option is to make the next one count. Applying this mindset to all rowing is valuable.
Expect the unexpected.
Flat water rowing can be unpredictable, but open water takes it to a whole new level. The swells, currents, tides, wakes, eddies, and debris all make for a dynamic experience. You’ll get plenty of practice sighting your line and trying to use the wind, tides, and currents to your advantage.
Gloves and seat pads are cool.
Get yourself a pair of baseball batting gloves and start experimenting with seat pads. I learned this lesson the hard way after destroying my hamstrings during the 13-mile race around Squaxin Island. Check your ego—your hands, hamstrings, and butt will thank you.
Boats on bigger boats
The mass start.
There are no organized lanes or neatly spaced start intervals here. Starting en masse at some of the larger Sound Rowers races adds an extra element of excitement. Jockeying for position while trying to shake off surfskis and high-performance kayaks from your wake is all part of the experience.
Rowers aren’t the only weirdos out there.
Paddlers make up a big portion of the racers. Awkwardly locking eyes with a surfskier as they ride your wake was a new experience. It can be a symbiotic relationship though—the paddler, with the advantage of sitting and facing forward, can help you sight your line.
MacGyvering
Sometimes you pull over on I-5 to tighten things up a bit
Logistical nightmare.
There’s nothing practical about the sport of rowing. We spent countless hours MacGyvering boats onto the tops of cars. Transporting equipment, timing ferries, and navigating beach launches are all part of the rowing experience in the Northwest. Perhaps the most loathsome part of a long race day is soaping and rinsing the saltwater off the boats when you return to the boathouse.
Washing boats... the worst part of the day
As with all rowing, being on the water in beautiful places with teammates and friends is what it’s really all about. The Sound Rowers races offer a fresh perspective on the natural beauty we’re fortunate enough to be surrounded by in Western Washington. Access to flat-water rowing is great, but once you’re bored of doing loops around your local waterway and looking for something more adventurous, look no further than open-water rowing.
Look at that stroke length!
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