The Tribune

BEGINNING the week of June 24, the Nassau Rowing Club is all set to hold its annual Learn to Row Summer Camp for the sixth year in a row.

The club has grown from just three boats in 2013 to a current fleet of 10 boats, including three four-person boats, three two-person boats, and four single sculling boats, both for beginners and for those rowers seeking to become more competitive and race overseas with the club’s travel squad.

Aimed at Bahamian junior and high school students from age 11 and older, the camp is designed to introduce the basics of rowing and develop those skills throughout the summer. Ultimately, the club hopes that students will continue rowing with Nassau RC’s regular squad throughout the school year, competing at races such as the Miami International Regatta (MIR) and the Head of the Charles Regatta. Many members of the Nassau RC junior squad who recently raced at the 47th Miami International Regatta in April 2019 came through last year’s summer programme.

Mark Palmer writes: “Enrolling [our daughter] Leila into the Summer Rowing Camp last year was one of the best decisions we made. Not only did she learn how to row, she improved her level of fitness, made new friends, and also competed in the MIR in April of this year.

“She recently made a commitment to step into a leadership role at the club and is now volunteering and teaching others to row. If you are looking for a safe environment to help your child develop physically, mentally and emotionally, we cannot recommend the Summer Rowing Camp enough.”

The summer camp will be taught by head coach and programme director, KariAnne Kulig, whose coaching and racing experience includes top clubs such as Cambridge Boat Club, Community Rowing Inc, Wayland-Weston Rowing Association in the greater Boston/Cambridge area, and Treasure Coast Rowing Club in Florida.

Said Kulig: “Nassau Rowing Club is opening doors for Bahamians to explore the sport of rowing. We have a great group of rowers, and the safest and most modern equipment on the island. It’s a great way to experience Lake Cunningham from a new perspective. As a former teacher, I would spend my summers coaching rowing camp, and working with new athletes always reinforces my love of the sport.”

President Kyle Chea, who learned to row while studying at Vassar College, said: “Nassau RC’s camp is a great way to learn the basics of rowing at a fraction of the cost of most American camps, and to do something totally different. I wasn’t good at ball sports in high school, and only began rowing when I got to college. I always wished I had the chance to try rowing sooner in life, and the Nassau Rowing Club is providing that opportunity for as many Bahamians as possible.”

When asked why rowing stands out as a sport of choice, Chea said: “Rowing is the ultimate team sport, the boat can’t leave the dock if one rower is missing, and everyone has to row in time with the others. As islanders with a heritage of boating, we can always use little reminders that we’re all on the same crew and need to work together to succeed.”

For more information on Nassau RC’s Learn to Row Summer Camp, visit NassauRowing.com, and explore more activities on Facebook and Instagram.

Financial assistance to attend the camp is available to government school students, and they are encouraged to inquire for more information.

Nassau RC is proudly sponsored by Aliv, ASA H Pritchard, ASA H Pritchard- Florida’s Natural, Bahamas Charitable Giving Foundation, Bahamas Wholesale Agencies Ltd, Bahamian Brewery - Sands, Cable Cares, Cacique International, Cole Insurance, Donald Tomlinson, Harbourside Marine, Higgs & Johnson, Oscar Johnson, Jr., Higgs & Kelly, James Cole, John Bull - Subway, Lowe’s Wholesale, Marlin Marine, Tony & Irene Miaoulis, Morley Realty, Nature’s Way Nursery, Oasis Landscape Limited, Odyssey Aviation, Pinder’s

Custom Brokerage, Powerboat Adventures, Super Value, The d’Albenas Agency Limited, Think Simple, W.E. Services, and Weikert Ford.