<B>Welcome!</B>
The Miami Rowing and Watersports Center’s Adult rowers are a mix of accomplished experienced rowers who have attained success at the collegiate and National Team levels, ex-high school rowers, and new rowers who have just taken up the sport recently.

We have many Masters rowers who train and compete regularly, and some who just like the pleasure of being out on the water and getting a little exercise.

Both men and women row both scull and sweep boats. As practical matter, it is best that Masters learn to scull so as to maximize their experience. If you are a sweep rower with no sculling experience, we recommend that you take sculling lessons with our Learn-to-Row Coaches.  Most rowers with sweep experience and good rowing skills find the transition to sculling not only fun but fairly easy.  You can contact <b>Sunny McLean</b> in the "Contact Us" section of our website.

<b>Did you row in College?</b>
Many of our competitive rowers have experience at the collegiate level, and if you rowed in college and want to get back on the water, then this is the place for you!

<b>How do I get started?</b>
If you are interested, we would love to have you visit the club, meet the other rowers and come on out and row with us.  Non-members are allowed 3 outings with an experienced member over a 30 day period to check out the club.   You may use the equipment as long as you are accompanied by a club member who is an experienced rower or an authorized MRC coach.  After one month, membership will be required.  Membership information may be found in the Membership section on the website.
 
If you would like to find out more about the adult rowing program or want to get out on the water for a trial row, please contact <b>Sunny McLean</b> whose e-mail is located in the "Contact Us" page.

<What is a "Masters Rower"</B>
Master rowers are typically ages 23 and up.  Many of us row and compete in local and national races well up into their 70’s.  
The “master” designation is for competition and differentiates rowers over 27 from the other Youth, Junior and Collegiate rowers.   There are also other categories based on age groups within the master designation.  You will learn about these if you compete in any of the rowing regattas.  

You do not have to be 23 or older to participate in the Miami Rowing Club master program.  We often have rowers just out of college and who want to continue rowing who are active participants.  There are oarspeople of all ages in the program.  Currently we have members aged 24 to 66 participating together on a regular basis.  The only requirement is a love of rowing and a desire to improve your rowing skills.

<B>Masters at their Best!</B>
   The MRC Masters are among the most accomplished and competetive masters rowing programs in the country. Our rowers have garnered gold medals at the National and World Championship level. The masters rowers span the breadth of experience from former Olympians to recent novices in their first few months of rowing.

<B>Experience at all levels</B>
   As the host of the 1990 US Masters Nationals and the 1991 FISA World Masters Championships, the Masters rowers at MRC are a fun, competetive, and inviting group that welcomes rowers from around the world to come join them when the start from scratch (as one of our past presidents, Fran Hancock, did), or as experienced rowers from other programs. If you are relocating to the Miami area, and have rowed before, this is perfect place to get with others of your experience. 

   This is also the place where novice rowers can get together with a group of oarsmen and oarswomen of different skill levels. We also have a set of ex-collegiate rowers who take to the water regularly, and if you are just out of college and want to continue rowing, you've found your place. 

Hope to see you on the water!

Sincerely,

Fernando Mendoza, Men's Masters Coordinator
Sunny McLean, Women's Masters Coordinator


<B>Additional Information</B>

<B>Safety Rules for Masters Rowers</B>
In order to make the water and all rowers safe and to keep your workouts enjoyable, it is important to have some rules and regulations.

SAFETY—IN THE BOATHOUSE and ON THE WATER
All boats must be signed out and back in in the log book in the boathouse.
o	This is important for both safety and insurance purposes
o	It is the responsibility of every rower who takes out a single
o	For larger boats, it is the responsibility of the bow person or the coxswain.

Lights must be worn prior to sunrise and after sunset
o	White light for the bow
o	Red light for the stern

All rowers must know the traffic pattern on the water and follow it at all times.

Never stop your boat anywhere in a traffic lane— if you must stop, move your boat out of the way of any possible water traffic.

It is always your responsibility to be aware of oncoming boats if you are moving slower and then to alert them, if necessary, and to move out of their way quickly.

<B>Equipment</B>
Most masters own their own shells, although the club owns and makes available many racing, training, and recreational shells, ranging from single sculls to competition 8’s.
