Learn to Row

Overview of Class Progression for Adults and Youth

Barge: Those with no rowing background begin in the barge, a wide and stable 12-person boat steered by an experienced coach. The barge’s stability allows its pupils to learn the fundamentals of the rowing stroke before progressing into narrower, less stable boats.

Zephyr: Progressing into the Zephyr is the first step in learning to scull (rowing with two oars, one in each hand). A Zephyr is a one-person boat which, while much narrower than the barge, is still very stable and allows rowers to continue to master the rowing stroke without the threat of flipping.

Training Single: The next step for scullers who have proven their abilities in the Zephyr is the training single, in Dolphins, Peinert 25s and 26s, far narrower and less stable boats, which simulate the challenge of a racing single.

Racing Single: Those who have proven their proficiency in the training single may move into racing singles, the fastest and most fragile boats at NBC. As the name suggests, these boats are suitable for racing, in addition to recreational and general fitness purposes.

Sweeps: Sweeps rowing is different from sculling in that each rower only has one oar, requiring boats of two, four or eight athletes. Those who have successfully completed the Zephyr, or have prior experience, may enroll in NBC’s sweeps classes if they prefer to sweep rather than to scull.