Rowing the Chesapeake

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How this competitive sport and its many adjacent water activities are growing in popularity 

Annapolis and the surrounding region are largely considered by many to be the sailing capital of the U.S., and arguably one of the sailing capitals of the world. With an ideal location on the Chesapeake Bay and several gorgeous rivers and inlets all around, there is little wonder at how the city has earned this title. But sailing on these waters is only part of the equation of how we enjoy our natural resources. You don’t have to have a luxurious sailboat or power boat to take to the waters in Annapolis. Other adventures provide an even closer connection to the water and offer excitement, competition, and conservation.

Competition & Camaraderie

Rowing is an engaging and energetic way to commune with water and form strong bonds with a team. Annapolis Junior Rowing (AJR) offers youth, ages 8th through 12th grade, the chance to learn a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime. “There is no other sport that offers this level of social and emotional growth in such a short period of time,” says Lee Rumpf, Men’s Team Head Coach for AJR. “These kids come to us sometimes nervous and unsure since they are new to the sport, and very quickly turn into different people full of drive, leadership, and strength. This is one of the only sports in this area where you don’t have to be doing it since you were little. You can start in high school and succeed.”

The benefits of rowing are both physical and emotional. “Rowing builds my body and makes me stronger,” says Bella Saros, AJR rower. “Even though it’s tiring, it’s always something I look forward to. All my teammates are supportive and very friendly.”. Varsity rower, Lex Lauer, concurs. “Rowing gives me a mental escape from the day-to-day and helps me stay healthy.” 

While zero rowing experience is required to join AJR, there must be a willingness to commit. Practices are each weekday evening from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in the fall and spring. In the winter, the team moves practices to a local gym for erging (the rowing simulation exercise machine) and cross training each day. With about four regattas each season on the water, and a chance at nationals in the early summer, the schedule can feel full but rewarding. “These kids learn so much body awareness. They often start like baby giraffes and can turn into an Olympian in a decade or less,” Rumpf says. In the summer, rowers can take part in rowing camps, or learn-to-row programs. “This is the ultimate team sport,” Rumpf says. “When you have a boat of four or eight rowers, if one person is late, the whole boat starts and stays late. You develop deep relationships with your teammates and coaches because it’s not all about you.”

Each person contributes to the success of the whole boat’s performance, making rowing a great team sport for students looking to compete in college. “Hard work really pays off, and we’ve seen our rowers get into amazing schools and service academies with rowing scholarships,” says Bridget Fitzpatrick, Director of Rowing for AJR. “Rowing can be particularly empowering for women. There are tons of scholarship opportunities, less overall cattiness than in other sports, and confidence and self esteem skyrocket. I see our women rowers standing taller and walking with shoulders wide. Since there are no MVP’s or superstars, there is so much support. Teammates row for each other and hold each other to high standards. It’s beautiful to see.”

AJR is the only youth rowing program in Anne Arundel County and attracts students from a variety of area public and private schools. There are some schools in Baltimore and the Eastern Shore offering rowing programs and while AJR is a private club, they do compete against schools and other private clubs. The Gunston School, on the Eastern Shore, is one of the schools offering rowing. 

Gunston’s rowing program launched in 2006 and has continued to grow in popularity and momentum since its inception. Currently, the team is made up of about 40 student athletes who compete as four- or eight-member teams. This year 50 percent of the seniors on the team have committed to collegiate rowing programs, ranging from DI to DIII. “As a coach, I weigh my athletes’ experience on the team higher than their wins or losses,” says Natalie Reading, Head Rowing Coach at The Gunston School. “Once I have created a supportive team environment, I am able to teach the techniques needed in order to have a winning season. For me, rowing is a unique sport where everyone in the boat must work together as a team in order to move forward and succeed.” 

Liam Dickey ’24, Men’s Rowing Captain at The Gunston School says, “Rowing is not just an after-school sports activity for me, it’s a place where I get to connect with others on my team and help them through thick and thin. It’s a place where people give 110 percent, where people can have a strong support group, where people can forget about the rest of the world for a little while, and most importantly, have fun doing something we love.”

A New Experience

For adults interested in rowing, they can head over to the Annapolis Rowing Club (ARC) to learn, compete, and otherwise enjoy the pleasures of rowing. All levels are welcome at this nonprofit organization. “ARC is also extremely proud of its adaptive rowing program for adults with physical and cognitive disabilities,” says Amelia Heffernan, the Program Coordinator for ARC’s adaptive rowing program. “We began this volunteer-based program in 2016 and have worked with an amazing group of people with a variety of disabilities including blindness, cerebral palsy, autism, traumatic brain injury, and limb loss. As needed, we modify the equipment, rowing technique, or instruction format to enable them to row. No experience is ever needed. All practices are run by experienced coaches and volunteers, and we are always looking for new adaptive rowers to join us on the water in a fun and supportive team environment.”

Another exciting way to take to local waters is through kayaking and stand up paddleboarding. Capital SUP is now in its tenth season of providing opportunities for locals and tourists to enjoy our area waterways. “I started the business because I grew up in Arnold, love this area, and wanted to create a gym on the water experience,” says Kevin Haigis, owner of Capital SUP. “Not everyone has easy access to expensive boats. I had friends who had them, but I never did. I wanted to give people of all backgrounds and experiences a chance to enjoy our beautiful waterways.” Capital SUP has stand up paddle boards, single and double kayaks, canoes, and peddle boats. They offer classes like paddle board yoga, special events that combine land and water activities, opportunities for birthday parties that incorporate party barges, and special team training for people who want to take it to the next level.

“We offer a three-month training program for stand-up paddle boarding to prepare people for various area races, along with the Bay Bridge Paddle that happens during the seafood festival,” Haigis says. With a new move to Quiet Waters Park, Capital SUP will offer weekly kids’ camps all summer long. It is also exciting to take part in their community staples such as the July 4th Paddle, Blue Angels Paddle, and various gorgeous sunrise and sunset tours. For an extra special day trip, visitors can take part in ecotours that pair adventures on the water with a visit to a local winery. “We are trying to make this tenth year a year full of celebration,” Haigis says.

In addition to providing entertainment, these small vessel activities can tie participants closer to their communities and help the environment. One of the initiatives that grew out of Capital SUP was the LiveWater Foundation. “We spend so much time on the water and take people out on the water, so we want the water to be as clean and safe as possible,” Haigis explains. “We want to connect people to the water in their community.” The foundation funds regular water monitoring and will actually close shop if the water is not clean enough. They also do regular cleanups, help kids in the community learn to paddle, and sponsor some kids for paddling camps, and work with Wounded Warriors and patients from Walter Reed to help people with disabilities enjoy the water. “We love the concept of engaging the community in a healthy way and working towards good for the environment,” Haigis says.

This area enjoys an abundance of beauty in its waterways. No matter how you get out on the water, you are sure to find adventure, an engaged community, and healthy recreation. Take it easy to enjoy a sunset or embrace your competitive spirit and join a team. You can’t lose either way.