Charlestown Rowing Club: From Struggle To Stride

Written by Vicky Bird, Charlestown Rowing Club Rower, Cox and Fundraising Officer

Charlestown Rowing Club’s 2024 event was a blinder this year!

Following lockdown, our club, like many others, was struggling. We needed more members, a new boat, and much more motivation.

We set about making changes, and the Committee, supported by our members, has been working tirelessly behind the scenes, making vital connections with other Charlestown groups and organisations, including the Regatta Committee. We’ve focused on getting ourselves involved and seen within the community as much as possible. This effort led to many amazing donations toward our well-stocked raffle.

Charlestown’s event used to be one of the biggest on the agenda, each year creating a waiting list of those eager to be invited. We are pleased to see an increase in its popularity over the past three years. As the club’s membership continues to grow, we are able to host larger events, with a goal of including at least 24 clubs in 2025 and 32 by 2026. Our much-talked-about race layout, with its unique number 9 shape, is a major draw for our event, with the first mark anchored right off the end of the outer quay. This setup gives spectators and local visitors a chance to experience firsthand the energy, excitement, and sometimes carnage that would otherwise happen at sea, out of view. Other rowers also get the opportunity to cheer on their crews and offer constructive criticism of both rowing and coxing skills.

In addition to this, we have our very own commentator, Jean Caddy. She keeps everyone informed of the day’s schedule and even gives St. Goran’s Michael Bunney a real run for his money!

Overall, the CRC ’24 event was a huge success, and with the hard work and dedication of our club members, we were pleased to raise crucial funds to purchase new Women’s A oars.

Roll on 2025!