About

Situated on the banks of the Wairoa River, Bay Coast is a small, friendly rowing club committed to encouraging School, Club and Masters rowers to fulfil their rowing dreams.

Our club comprises students from ACG, Bethlehem, Katikati, Otumoetai and Waihi Colleges as well as open adults and Masters.

Our rowers enjoy beautiful scenery on the fresh water of the Wairoa River where we row all year round.

We have experienced coaches, great boats and equipment. We welcome athletes from aged 12 upwards who want to give this great social sport a go.

Rowing is an incredible sport that will take you to new levels of fitness, help you develop self-motivation and endurance, enable you to achieve personal goals, open doors to new friendships, and, through dedication and hard work, can lead to success in the sport.

CLUB HISTORY

A new club on the Wairoa

Until 1992, opportunities for rowing in Tauranga were limited to the waters of the Harbour. There was a demand for people to row competitively, recreationally and socially away from the harbour waters, where rowing was mainly restricted to morning training. Aware of this demand, along with a passion for rowing, four dedicated individuals decided to set up a new, independent club.

The club started on the Wairoa River in October 1992, with limited resources and funded solely by the founding members, Ted Phelps, Albie and Lorraine Sands, Geoff and Peggy Towne and Aat and Magda van Dijk.

These members combined to purchase the initial equipment, which was later increased by the donation of two four-oared boats. This equipment comprised one four-oared boat with oars, an eight-oared boat, a coaching dingy and a rowing training machine. In 1993, a new eight-oared boat was bought with combined funding from members’ fundraising, and a grant from the Hillary Commission.

The boat shed

1994 saw phenomenal growth in both club membership and resources. Community support was shown through significant grants obtained from Trust Bank Bay of Plenty, the Lottery Grants Board and by funds raised by members. This enabled the building of a large boat shed on land leased by the club adjacent to the Wairoa River. The shed made the club totally self-sufficient in housing all its boats and training equipment. 1994 also purchased a double scull and coxswains equipment funded by members.

In 1999 the Club purchased the land and at the same time, the boat shed was extended to double its size. This venture was funded by debentures from committee members, a grant from the Lottery Grants Board and many hours of volunteer labour.

Fostering a love of rowing

Membership levels have remained constant at around 60-70 over the years. A renewed interest in rowing is reflected in the number of new school and recreational rowers who have joined the club over the past years. In the Club’s short history there have been quite a number of NZ representatives in the younger age groups. The club now has a broad cross-section of members ranging from the competitively focused school and club rowers, through the recreational rowers of all age groups, to the master rowers who enjoy combining fitness training with competitive activities.