Learn to Row
2026 courses are on Saturday mornings and run for 6 weeks.
Start Date: 18/04/26
Start Time: 10:00
Booking Deadline: 18/04/26
You will be guided by our club coaches and volunteers over the course of 6 weeks. You will learn British Rowing technique in sculling (two oars) to the point where you will then be able to join our development squad,
The course is open to anyone 18+ with no upper age limit, Rowing is a low impact sport and only requires beginners to have reasonable flexibility.
What Will I Have Covered By The End Of The Programme?
- Carrying and storing boats
- Launching and landing boats
- Correct manoeuvring whilst on the water
- Capsize and recovery
- Learn to scull in a variety of boats
- Proper technique on an indoor rowing machine (used badly and potentially dangerously in nearly all gyms throughout the land!)
Is Rowing Safe?
Yes! Rowing is a very safe sport, provided participants respect the river, water, and the rules of navigation.
A basic requirement before you row is that you can swim in light clothing. We don’t assess this as part of the Learn To Row course – you sign a disclaimer to say that you can do this. You will wear a life jacket when in the boat. We ask that you always bring a spare change of clothes to all sessions on the off chance that you fall in!
What Is The Progression Upon Completion?
Upon completion of the 6 week programme of training, you are invited to join in sessions which are arranged to suit the numbers and availability of members.
If you wish to carry on rowing, we ask you to set up a standing order for £28 a month to be set up on the date of the first post-Learn to Row session. £28 a month offers good value for the use of equipment that you will be able to access (some boats cost over £10,000!). We have spent in excess of £60,000 over recent years on the building and we continue to plan new improvements.
We have two clubs which operate from the same boathouse. John O’ Gaunt Rowing Club is the adult club for over 18s. The junior club is the Lancaster Schools’ Rowing Association – all young people who are of school age are members of this club.
Anyone that has read this and is school age (12-18) can turn up to any junior session on a Sunday morning at 9:30am and we will give you two free sessions to see if you would like to take up rowing.
Refugee Rowing Programme
The Learn to Row program is one way our club helps some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in our area.
The programme started in 2024 and has taught the sport of rowing to young asylum seekers/refugees from Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kurdistan, Eritrea and Namibia.
Some of the rowers have entered novice level racing and all have benefited from the exercise and the opportunity to build social connection.
u3a Rowing Group
The u3a [Lancaster and Morecambe, University of the Third Age] Rowing Group was launched in response to a call from Sport England to get more people over age 55 engaged in sport.
Since it started in 2017 over 35 people have passed through the programme. Some have come back to rowing after a lay-off of decades since their university days, but most started with the group as raw novices. The members are taught how to row, scull and cox, usually in coxed, stable 4s and to perform a Capsize Test.
The average age has been between 69 and 72. They row every Monday afternoon – except for adverse weather and/or river conditions. A few have gone onto join the club and several
times their crews have taken part in racing events.
On April 29th 2025, the group celebrated the 35th Anniversary of the Lancaster and Morecambe u3a by rowing a relay of 35 miles. 10 crews rowed in turn from Skerton to Halton – 3.5 miles round trip each. It was a wet but happy day!
Stuart’s experience on a Learn to Row Course at Lancaster John o’Gaunt RC
“I recommend giving it a go whatever your age!”
My introduction to rowing was some years ago as a result of my son competing. However, the chance to row, whilst something I would have liked to have done, was never realized until recently. I joined a LTR course at JoG and have loved the whole experience.