Reflecting on the past 6 seasons and Introducing WHAT’S NEW for 2026.
6 seasons done and dusted.
702 rowers through the doors and I am immensely proud of the rowing programme I have been able to offer new rowers in Lymington.
Make it stand out
Although quiet on the marketing front, it’s been very busy on the water and at RA Ltd’s HQ.
Rowing Adventures Ltd has worked collaboratively with Lymington ARC since 2020 with a steady pipeline of new rowers each season via Row Fit and Learn to Crew Row courses.
This year, Lymington ARC has won British Rowing’s ‘Club of the Year’ award’ and I couldn’t be more proud of the collaboration.
The WHY: Totally inspired, after watching Heather Stanning win Olympic Gold at Dorney Lake, London. I completed a L2R course and started my own rowing journey at Lymington ARC. I began volunteer coaching, joined the committee and I searched for a way to bring more of our community through the rowing club doors. Every club has it’s barriers, volunteers, equipment, funds, space but the move to new premises; officially opened by Heather was a light bulb moment and an opportunity to grow.
The HOW: I took voluntary redundancy, bought some (safe and stable) Glide Boats and the Rowing Adventures Ltd concept was born. I could now say YES to anyone wanting to give rowing a try and signpost them to the right spot on a progressive ‘Pay to Row’ programme.
The RESULT: This provided a pathway into any rowing club as a ‘novice rower’ member and at Lymington ARC, this is the Junior Development or Recreational Rowing Squad. As the New Member and Recreational Row Lead at LARC, the process is therefore efficient. I do also signpost rowers to locations for other ‘tried and tested’ rowing options to further develop their skills and adventure locations. The Row Fit community has been steadily growing over the past 6 years and sessions and is a great place to keep fit, develop good technique and pursue on water sessions once they are available.
Bob Cottell at Coastal Rowing Centre Studland. Home of Coastal Barbarians.
Jurassic Coastal Rowing in Exmouth
I’ve enjoyed coaching both newbies and ex rowers of all ages and loved watching their ‘successes’ in all it’s forms. I’ve coached rowers with a goal of rowing an Ocean and para athletes ready to face a variety of personal challenges. I’ve welcomed visiting schools to both Indoor rowing and endurance/adventure rowing. The Junior ‘Summer Rowing Adventure Camps’ for both new and experienced rowers designing a balanced programme to suit their ability and supported a successful Guinness Book of Records Challenge row around the Isle of Wight, a charity fundraising row from Portsmouth to Lymington and a Junior Squad club fundraising row to and from The Needles to Bembridge. I’ve enjoyed delivering the regular, annual capsize drill tests for Women and Junior Squads and I’ve assisted in product development and marketing of the Rooster Coastal Rowing Range. Every day is different, every day is positive.
My professional development is ongoing, to be able to support rowers in all genres and I particularly enjoyed my Ocean Boat training courses at Aurora Sea School with Dawn Smith; the intrepid Ocean Boat explorer and a 3 day Coastal Training Camp; with Jurassic Coastal Rowing and Peter Haining in Exmouth, learning how to use the power of head and tail winds to ride waves effectively.
Personally, this season has seen me take on my own intrepid Ocean Row Challenge (Turks and Caicos to Miami with a dramatic EPIRB rescue on day 2), an Offshore European Adventure with a Biathlon Challenge (Club d’Aviron de Paluden, Brittany), a return to competitive rowing on the River (Gold at British Rowing Masters Champs, 3rd place at World Masters 4x), H&DARA Coastal events (Masters Champion Squad), a variety of Offshore Coastal Rowing League events (Winner of Teignmouth Round the Island Race), winners of the Totness to Dartmouth Head Race (15km) and a last minute entry into the British Championship Beach Sprints event (quite a baptism of fire).
2025 became the full house of rowing genres. Ocean. Offshore. Coastal. Beach Sprint and River. I loved them all.
So, onto season 7 and it’s looking ‘a little’ different.
NEW for 2026:
NEW Swift Coastal Offshore Double has been added to the fleet. This SWIFT sculling boat copes with more extreme conditions making for longer outings and in bumpier water. Also available for racing in any FISA regulated event. This compliments the Glide Tides/ Solos and LARC’s Rushworth Coxed Quad for Adventuring/ Try Crew L2R sessions.
NEW LEARN location at Row for Life, Coastal Rowing Centre, Studland.
TWO NEW EXPLORE LOCATIONS Adventuring/ Touring with partner companies Rowing Tours NZ and Row Tours UK.
Row for Life at The Coastal Rowing Centre is expanding their programme. More information will be released in the New Year. I hope to offer a bespoke Learn 2 Row programme at this location, using the Glide Boats.
In the winter (off season) February to April, I will be heading to Nelson, NZ supporting Rowing Tours NZ with their 2026 programme. They offer tours in the Abel Tasman National Park, the Marlborough Sounds and the Southern Lakes. More info HERE.
and some dates through May to October, I will be supporting Row Tours UK with Monster the Loch, Vongalonga and helping to develop other tours in the England (Lake Windemere, Thames) Scotland (Loch Lomond, Caledonian Canal), Channel Islands (Jersey, Sark) and Ireland (Cork, NI). More Info HERE
I plan to journal my new location adventures on Instagram/ Facebook and hope to inspire you to consider these NEW options one day!
See you on the water in 2026…
