Masters men and women rowers rowing on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.  Launching primarily sweep boats (4+s, 8+s) from Thompson Boat Center in Georgetown where the Rock Creek tributary enters the Potomac River Competing in rowing regattas locally, up and down the east coast, and in Canada

Interested in becoming a member of Rock Creek?

ROW:  We are a club of experienced and enthusiastic men and women masters rowers who train, compete, and strive to improve individually and as a team. CONTRIBUTE:  We offer our effort and enthusiasm on the water, and our skills and time toward the management and administration of the club off the water. OUTREACH:  We are stewards of the places we row, helping to care for the Potomac and its surroundings, and also ambassadors of rowing as we encourage others to learn to row and join our sport.

Welcome to Gwen Sully, our new men's coach!  She'll start in the 2012 season.

Find out about our Winter Training program at Georgetown University!

Jan 22:  Our annual FUNdraiser - Dinner and Live Auction at Positano's in Bethesda was successful - and Fun!  Many thanks to those who donated auction items and to those who purchased.  Plus a big round of applause to Fundraising co-chairs Bill Fry and Bonnie Hill!

Jan 20:  President Pete Thompson reviewed our 3rd successful year at the Annual Membership and Election meeting.   The club is in a strong position and clearly is sustainable.   Many thanks to those leaving the board (French Slaughter, Robin Hassani, Shirine Moazed, Suzanne Milton) for their dedication and welcome to the new board members.

Dec 14: RCR supports the NPS feasibility study of a Non-motorized Boathouse Zone along the Potomac River near Key Bridge.  Any additional boathouses constructed there for universities or others would alleviate crowding at TBC.

Dec 10:  Many thanks to Des and Bonnie for organizing a small RCR fundraiser with Arbonne products.

Dec 8:  We've started our 3rd annual Winter Training program at Georgetown University with a full group of enthusiastic rowers and coaches. 

Nov 15: Online winter registration opens today!

If you’ve received an email from the Registrar (Ann Tilghman) to send your check to the Assistant Treasurer (Robin Hassani) or if you are a Rock Creek Rowing member, then you’ll also need to complete the online Winter Training registration form.   Send your check payable to Rock Creek Rowing to Assistant Treasurer Robin Hassani, 2200 12th Court North, Apt 11, Arlington VA  22201. $325 RCR members, $350 non-members.

For more information about Rock Creek’s Winter Training program and any existing openings, please contact us at info.rockcreekrowing@gmail.com . 

Nov 14:  Save the date!  Dinner Party and Auction - Our winter FUNdraiser dinner will be Saturday, January 21, 2012.  Have some fun and cheer, see your teammates in real clothes!

Nov 11:  Plans are moving forward for Winter Training which begins Monday, Dec 5.  Winter applications for members and non-members will be available soon.   Interested in working out with us this winter?  Email us to get on our mailing list.

Nov 8:  From RCR President Pete Thompson - As we have our final rows of the season, I congratulate all Rock Creek rowers, coxswains, and coaches on a great year.  We worked harder than ever before in winter training, experienced some terrific results on the water (including good performances in several mixed events where the men and women joined forces), and both the men and women returned to the Head of the Charles on a classic October weekend.  Our coaches, Brent Keuch and Nancy Faigen, were superstars from winter training all the way through the fall, teaching and encouraging us to become better rowers and tougher competitors.  Perhaps most importantly of all, the 2011 season was characterized, in my view, by a great sense of teamwork and camaraderie among the entire team.  No matter the task, there were always people gladly willing to step up -- dealing with equipment issues, figuring out trailering and regatta logistics and last-minute backup boat arrangements, making sure our coaches had what they needed for safe and effective practices, communicating with the team and individuals as needed, paying the bills and managing the finances . . . the list goes on.  In my humble opinion, Rock Creek Rowing has become a very special club where we not only work hard and compete at a high level but also like and respect one another as teammates and friends.  And we never, ever, lose sight of the fact that this is all supposed to be – and is – FUN. 

Nov 6:  Rock Creek Rowing wrapped up its season with good racing on a beautiful fall day at the Head of the Occoquan.  On the women's side, RCR placed a strong third out of six entries in the Masters 40+ fours, while the RCR entry in the Masters 50+ fours finished fourth out of six.  In the Masters 50+ eights, the RCR women were sixth in a tightly bunched group in which only two minutes separated the first and last place boats.  On the men's side, RCR's Masters 50+ four carried by far the oldest average age in the event (64) but held its own with the younger crews, finishing sixth out of seven entries but within shouting distance of a couple of boats who finished ahead.  RCR's biggest adventure of HOTO 2011 came in the Men's Masters eights -- an episode that will forever be known as "The One Where Michael Broke The Oarlock Pin."   Michael rowed with such youthful exuberance on the warmup that, as RCR neared the starting area, he sheared an oarlock pin.  Coxswain Tracie Felker immediately commenced negotiations with a nearby referee and secured his permission for the boat to return to the dock to solve the problem and row in a later race.  Indomitable coach Nancy Faigen miraculously managed to arrange for the use of an ACR eight that was due at the dock any minute. RCR jumped in and rowed briskly up to the start.  With 15,000 meters of rowing now under its belts, RCR rowed another 5K meters in what all agreed was, particularly under all the challenging circumstances, probably the RCR men's most satisfying race of the year, crossing the finish line – roughly two-and-a-half hours after first leaving the dock – in a time of 18:55.36 that turned out to be good enough for fourth out of eight in the very competitive 40+ category.  It may not have produced medals, but this race certainly produced memories.

Oct 22:  In spectacular Boston weather, RCR men and women launched masters 50’s eights and raced in very competitive fields at the Head of the Charles where many teams had some ex-Olympic and ex-national team rowers in their boats.  With over 200,000 spectators cheering us along the entire length of the course, both boats rowed what they considered to be pretty good races.  Although neither RCR entry achieved the coveted top-half finish that guarantees a spot in next year's regatta, both crews rowed well and hard, finished strong, and came off the water with heads held high.  A delicious team dinner in Boston's North End capped off a great day, and left us all looking forward to another trip to the Head of the Charles in 2012!

Archived News from previous years

Our relationship to Thompson Boat Center

Rock Creek Rowing, Inc (RCR) is a 501(c)(7) non-profit organization which has no official relationship with Thompson Boat Center.  Annual membership in RCR includes the benefit of weekday training for weekend racing for those adult rowers who have previous racing experience.  RCR's weekend racing support includes  administrative, legal, financial and logistical factors for regatta competitions held offsite of Thompson Boat Center and National Park Service property.  RCR also currently provides a social network for individuals who choose to engage in the sport of rowing in the Washington DC area and beyond.  Those seeking recreational rowing should take instructional classes offered at Thompson Boat Center including Learn To Row and Intermediate rowing.  We conduct no business at the Thompson Boat Center and collect no fees within Rock Creek National Park.  RCR is an independent club and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or with the NPS concessioner Guest Services, Inc.