Sweep Learn To Row

Adult Sweep Learn to Row Classes begin :

Monday May 5th at Rocketts Landing or

Tuesday June 17th at Robious Landing.  

Rocketts Landing - 4708 Old Main Street, Richmond, VA 23231

• Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
• Saturdays at 8 AM 
• Sessions are approximately 2 hours each

Robious Landing - 3800 James River Road, Midlothian, VA 23113

• Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 PM
• Saturdays at 7:30 AM
• Sessions are approximately 2 hours each

The skills of rowing are sequential and require practice as a team.  We encourage you to participate in every class listed.  By the conclusion of the class, you will have learned the basics of the sweep stroke in a team boat with each person having one (1) oar.  Please keep the entire day of Saturday, June 14, 2025 open.  The Virginia Boat Club Sprints will be held on June 14th at our Robious Landing Boathouse.  The Learn to Row teams are encouraged to race in this 1000 meter course.  Rowing clubs travel to Richmond and the park is full of rowers, boats, and excitement!  

Participants must be 18 years or older and have graduated high school.

Rowing is a water s, requires a certain degree of mobility. By registering , participants are agreeing that they are able to accomplish the following skills: tread water for 5 minutes; swim 50 m (two laps of a pool); lift 30 pounds overhead; and squat, bend, and reach with full range of motion.  If you have concerns regarding any of these requirements, please email Admin@VirginiaBoatClub.org before registering.

Sign up instructions:

• Robious Visit :https://icrew.club/smurl?t=crp&id=3203
• Rocketts Visit: https://icrew.club/smurl?t=crp&id=3204
• Complete the New Member Registration Form
• Click Register
• Complete a payment option
• Select My Documents to sign the swim certification electronically

SWEEP ROWING

At VBC, we offer group Learn-to-Row classes for sweep rowing, where each rower uses one oar.  Sweep rowing is a great way to learn the basics and get comfortable with the sport. As your skill progresses, you can move to sculling where each rowers use two oars.

Sweep rowers work in pairs with a coxswain (2+) and pairs without (2-), fours with a coxswain (4+) and fours without (4-) and the eight (8+), which always carries a coxswain. The eight is the fastest boat on the water. A world-level men's eight is capable of moving almost 14 miles per hour.

SCULLING

Rowers with two oars – one in each hand – are scullers. There are three basic sculling boats: the single – 1x (one person), the double – 2x (two) and the quad – 4x (four).

Athletes are identified by their seat in the boat. The athlete in bow is seat No. 1. That's the person who crosses the finish line first (which makes it easy to remember – first across the line is No. 1 seat). The person in front of the bow is No. 2, then No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8, a.k.a. the stroke. The stroke of the boat must be a strong rower with excellent technique, since the stroke sets the rhythm and number of strokes per minute the rest of the crew must follow. 

Classes are held at both boathouses and are 12 sessions. The spring sweep session includes racing in our home regatta against other novice boats.