Where do you row?
Launching from East End Beach in Portland, Maine, we row in Casco Bay, Back Cove and the Presumpscot River. See the Connect page for maps and addresses.
How do I find you on the morning of my session?
If you're using Google Maps, search for Cutter Street. We meet at the bottom of Cutter Street, which is the winding road that intersects with the Eastern Promenade and curves down to the East End Beach. We will meet on the lawn between the storage containers and our boat rack.
Where should I park?
There is limited parking at the bottom of the hill just past the train tracks, but we encourage you to park in the lot above the tracks.
What should I wear?
Please wear layers and closer-fitting clothing that will not get caught in the moving seats of the boat. You will also need water shoes that are somewhat secure on your feet - we launch off the beach, which means we have to carry the boats into the water. Remember to bring socks to wear in the boat!
What should I bring?
Socks, a water bottle, water shoes, and anything for the sun (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.). If you have valuables (bag, wallet, phone, keys), you may leave them locked in the storage container while we row.
What happens in bad weather?
In some cases, heavy rain, wind, or fog will make it impossible for us to row safely. We do not row if there is lightning, although we do row in the rain. If it is clear that the weather is unsafe before the session begins, the coach or a designated contact will communicate the cancellation via SMS or email. In other cases, we cannot make a call until we are gathered at the beach.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
Because this is a water sport, you should be comfortable swimming if you wish to row. Any experienced rowers taking out a single scull must pass a flip test to demonstrate they can get back into the boat safely should they capsize.
Is there a height, weight or age limit?
We ask that all rowers be 14 years of age or older and able to carry at least 30 lbs overhead for a short distance. If you are concerned about your height or weight please email the coach at row@rowportland.org.
Is there a fitness requirement?
We carry very heavy boats off of the racks, down a set of stairs and into the water. The weight distribution can be very uneven at times. You should have the ability to safely lift 30 lbs up over your head. We also require that you have prior rowing experience as we aren’t able to offer learn-to-row classes at this time. Check with your health care provider to determine if rowing and lifting boats is an appropriate activity for you.
Do you offer sculling or private instruction?
We are primarily a coached, team oriented, sweep rowing organization. We do have some sculling with a quad, a double and a few singles. As an organization we do not offer private instruction.
What other organizations are there in Maine or organizations that offer private instruction?
Maine Rowing Association - https://www.rowmaine.me
Maine Coast Rowing Association - https://mcrarowing.org
Craftsbury Outdoor Center - https://www.craftsbury.com
Megunticook Rowing - https://megunticookrowing.org
Community Rowing, Inc., Brighton, MA - https://www.communityrowing.org/
Do you offer boat storage?
At this time we do not offer personal boat storage.