Duluth Rowing Club

Duluth Rowing Club: Youth and Adult Recreation, Fitness, and Competition

Funding Need: Trailer to Transport Boats to Regattas

An integral part of the DRC’s youth and adult rowing programs is traveling to regattas. Each season the DRC sends crews to 5-6 regattas in Minnesota and Canada. Competing in area regattas offers rowers the chance to experience the bigger world of rowing and a creates a greater sense of team among the crew. 

 A new trailer is desperately needed to transport boats to regattas. The DRC’s current trailer, which is over 40 years old, has been in constant need of repairs and now needs new springs and shackles. The existing trailer is starting to flex which is damaging to the fragile rowing shells while in transport. 

The DRC is raising funds to purchase a new 39-foot, galvanized, dual axel trailer.  This will be a four-level trailer with an extended light bar.  It will have support shelfs to stand on that will improve safety when loading and unloading boats. 

A new trailer is important to the DRC for several reasons:

• Vital to rowing the experience providing opportunity for youth and adults to race against better crews
• Increases motivation to improve rowing technique and row harder
• Provides another opportunity for team building while loading and unloading the boats 
• Has safety features to prevent injury for getting boats on and off the trailer
• Traveling builds camaraderie among the crew and enhances the fun of the sport
• Improves safety on the road because it provides more support when hauling a heavy load
• Extends the life of rowing shells due to less stress during transport
• Less cost of future of future maintenance to the Club 

The cost of new trailer is $33,000.  An anonymous donor has contributed $10,000 and the DRC Board has earmarked $10,000 for this project.  The DRC is seeking raise the remaining $13,000 from current and past rowers, friends of the DRC, and the community. 

The DRC appreciates gift of any amount that will help to reach our funding goal. Thank you!

FUNDRAISING GOAL:  $13,000

 About the Duluth Rowing Club

Located on the western tip of Lake Superior, the Duluth Rowing Club (DRC) is home to a thriving rowing program composed of both competitive and recreational crews. The DRC provides youth and adults  the opportunity to learn the sport of rowing and experience fun and fitness on the water.  The DRC  offers all needed equipment, coaching, and a place to row from its newly constructed boathouse.  The DRC also sponsors two events during  the rowing season: the Annual Duluth International Regatta held in July, and Death Row, a 25 kilometer event up the St. Louis River, held in September.

The Duluth Rowing Club's primary focus is its  youth program for those age 13-18.  Over 100 Junior rowers typically participate from throughout the Duluth area.  Junior rowers learn valuable teamwork skills, improve their overall health and fitness,  learn water safety, and gain an appreciation for the Lake Superior waterways.  In addition to the fun, competition, and camaraderie, each Junior is eligible to earn sports letter from their high school.  Duluth Junior crews consistently medal in local regattas and several go on to row in college.

The Duluth Rowing Club also has an active adult rowing program available to men and women of all ages and fitness levels.   Current adult rowers ages range from 18-80.  There is the option to row for fitness and recreation, or for competition.  Several competitive adult rowers have medaled  at  national and international regattas.   The Learn to Row course is offered several times during the summer to introduce adults to the sport.

All are welcome at the Duluth Rowing Club.  Program fees are affordable to encourage participation.  Scholarships are available to cover program fees. No one is turned away for inability to pay membership fees. 

The Duluth Rowing Club is a financially sound, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in good standing. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

More information on the Duluth Rowing Club is available at https://duluthrowing.org/