The Importance of Rowing

On my two most recent cruises I was struck by the fact that I only twice saw someone rowing their tender to and from their boat. Modern inflateables are in many respects so much easier to row than the old floppy floored Avons of my childhood. Of course, small engine technology has advance enormously as well. I find it slightly sad, though, when every boat has the ubiquitous Mariner or Honda clamped to the pushpit. Bring back the oar is a battle cry I should like to hear from St. Peter Port to Fort William.

Rowing is supremely good exercise and will help you to continue sailing beyond the point where others have to swallow their metaphorical anchor. Of course, the style needed to propel a rubber duck through the harbour chop is going to be a far cry from the elegant style demonstrated at the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Care must also be exercised to ensure that rowing does not either worsen or lead to a bad back. Still, there is no doubt that it is a very good way to burn off extra calories.

We yotties should be able to feel a little bit smug that our enjoyment does ot contribute to global warming but this is not strictly the case. Eschewing the outboard will however go a long way to reducing our carbon footrpint as well as benefitting the local envirionment enormously with less noise a fewer nasties being released into the water.

If you are serious about dumping the oversized egg whisk, you will need to give some thought to how you are going to do it. Notwithstanding the benefits of more rigid bottoms, many modern inflateables are ill equipped for rowing. I despair of the piddling little oars manufacturers now give as a token to self sufficiency in the event of you forgetting check that there was enough fuel in the tank. Flat wooden transoms create a lot more drag than the old round tail shape. Of course, the ideal rowing inflateables are the very well made but rather pricey Tinker Tramp and Traveller.

You will get lots of admiration if you do leave the outboard behind and get around harbours the old fashioned way. It is much more in keeping with the spirit of our sport and more fun as well. Even if they don't row themselves, people will admire you for doing so. I look forward to the day when oar makers outnumber outboard stands at the boat shows. Finally, fuelling up the engine with choice food and wine is much pleasanter than buying a few litres of overpriced unleaded at the fuel barge.

© Roger Kynaston, 2007