Offshore Rowing
Offshore rowing is the extreme version, the adventure side of rowing. It involves rowing along a sea coast and out into the sea and is one of the fastest growing communities of rowers. Offshore rowing boats are also used inland on some lakes and rivers where the water tends not to be flat. Rowing on rough water means that offshore rowing is quite different from the flat-water Olympic style of rowing in a straight line. Offshore rowers prefer rough water which adds a whole new dimension to the sport with many offshore rowers cherishing the exhilarating aspect of rowing in extreme conditions around a triangular or rectangular course. Offshore rowing is easier to learn than flat-water rowing, due partly to the stability and robustness of offshore rowing equipment which differs from the Olympic-style boats. The standard boats are singles (or solo), doubles and coxed quadruple sculls. But just knowing how to handle an offshore rowing boat is not sufficient to become a good offshore rower. Crews must be aware of tides and currents, learn about the course’s topography and know what to do in the midst of maritime traffic and in case of bad weather.