Start Rowing

How to get started

If you are wondering if rowing is for you, why not join us for an introductory session to experience Celtic Sea rowing on our beautiful River Conwy waters.

As a budding rower or a cox in the making, grab yourself a place on one of our Beginners’ Courses to get some Celtic longboat experience and basic training.

Each course provides 2 x 1 hour sessions, to introduce the joys of Celtic Sea Rowing and key rowing techniques
Each session will involve a mixture of shoreside guided instruction on safety, handling the boats, basic rowing terminology and techniques as well as time rowing on the water.
Rowing will be taken at a pace to suit beginners, with guided training from a coaching cox and a minimum of 2 experienced rowers to best support your learning journey
There is a course fee of £30, but you do not need to be a Club Member to join the Beginners’ Course
All rowing equipment is provided, including lifejackets, see our Lifejacket Policy.
Just bring yourself, dressed in something comfy and appropriate for the weather conditions (see General information for rowers) and some water to drink!
Courses are scheduled on demand, but run weekly, early evening, from April to September.
Please note all rowing sessions are weather dependent. Weather cancelled beginners sessions will be rescheduled to the next available session.

To book onto a course or get more information contact Peter Hamer
Mobile: 07885 245 052
email: peterhamer.maritime@gmail.com

General information for rowers

Rowing is great fun, and a good, whole-body workout in the great outdoors! So there’s a few things we need to bring with us on our adventures

The first thing to grab is a waterproof bag or dry bag, to carry and protect any kit and belongings you need to keep with you, such as…
- Water bottle! Hydration is essential, so always bring with you a water bottle filled with some refreshing drinking water. Top tip: the bottles with a cap to keep the mouth piece clean and dry are the best
- Personal medication that you need to carry with you e.g. asthma inhalers or EpiPen
- Valuables e.g. mobile phone, keys, wallet
- Alternative clothing for changing weather conditions
Your footwear has a number of boxes to tick…they need to protect your feet when walking across slippery, sandy or pebbly shorelines as well as on pontoons or jetty’s – so good sole grip and flexibility is important. They need to be washable as they will get wet, salty, muddy and sandy. Finally whilst rowing they need to keep your feet warm and secured well into the footbox – so they need to be a good fitting, full foot shoe, that’s not too bulky, so no sandals or platformed shoes.
- Wetsuit shoes are a good option for summer rowing. Choose a pair with a decent sole for good grip and sole protection
- Wetsuit boots with thicker neoprene (~5mm) and rubber soles are great for winter rowing and even better when worn with water & windproof knee socks or waders.
What to wear? Dress in something comfortable and breathable, that allows you to move freely when rowing, as well as getting in and out of the boats. Typically leggings or shorts, T-shirts with sweatshirts or hoodies are the foundation clothing items. Also wear clothes that you do not mind getting wet or a little muddy from boat launching and retrieving.
- Layers are the answer to every weather condition! Layer up in the winter, with a thermal base layer, and delayer as you warm up rowing. Wear lighter layers in the summer, ensuring you always have a base layer of sunscreen to protect uncovered skin from the sun.
- Carry or wear waterproofs if there’s a chance of rain
- Pack the sunnies…water reflects any sunlight really well
- Hat or cap for sun, rain or windchill protection
- Gloves for rowing are a personal preference….depending on your rowing technique gloves can lessen or increase the likelihood of blisters. In summer lightweight, fingerless gym or cycling gloves are options. In winter, waterproof, full-hand cycling or ski gloves may be needed.

We do have a range of Deganwy Rowers branded kit, which can be purchased directly from the following suppliers:

Happy and safe rowing

Safety is paramount when rowing, so here are some key points to remember.

Weather

It’s a good idea to check the weather forecast before heading out, so you dress for the conditions. There is no such thing as bad weather if you’ve got the right clothing!

Be self-aware

If you are not feeling well or have an injury that may be aggravated by rowing, skip the session and recover before rowing again. Let your lead cox know as early as possible so they can substitute the crew.

Team working

Our Celtic longboats are manually launched and retrieved. This involves manoeuvring the boats, on trolleys, over uneven beach terrain and lifting them off and on to trolleys at the waters edge. Each boat launch requires minimum of 5 people, co-ordinated by the cox. To avoid any strains, bumps, slips or trips, know your own physical boundaries and don’t push past them, keep an eye on your surroundings and your crew buddies, listen out for coxes instructions and work as a team.

Hazards

Watch out on jetty’s and pontoons where there are likely to be slip and trip obstacles such as ropes, rowing kit, sandy or wet pontoon surfaces and other rowers moving about – no one wants to make a splash! The same applies to the beach…the underfoot conditions are always changing depending on tide and weather. Take care walking shoreside…the sand can shift from being firm to very soft or slippery, and pebbled areas can be sharp and also slippery.

Before setting off

Coxes will run through a safety briefing before setting off, but do let your cox know if you have any ailments or restrictions that they need to be aware of. If you do injure yourself or feel unwell during the row, let your cox know immediately.

Life jacket

Wear a life jacket, including when entering and exiting the boats…even if you’re an experienced rower. Always ensure your equipment is fit for purpose and in good condition. Club lifejackets are provided for beginners, but once you are an established rower it is better to get your own lifejacket so it is set-up to fit you best. If you need advice on lifejackets and their maintenance, just ask one of the coxes.