Rowing not racing

[Rvanvoris]

Is there anyone out there in the rowing community who,like me, is into rowing but not racing?
For me the rowing is the thing. Moving a elegant boat through the water in the most efficient way that it is possible for me to do so is my goal
not competition.
I feel that racing is an external and for me, an artificial goal. I am searching for more internal rewards.
Now it is true that I am not a particularly fast rower and perhaps if I was winning more races I would be more into it. But I have won some races in the past and that did not move me the way that rowing alone in the moonlight on a Cape Cod pond, as I did last night, touches my soul.
The rowing community refers to it as "recreational rowing" and treats it like it is a lesser form of the sport. Good perhaps for tyros and old coots but not real rowing.
Let me know your thoughts.
RVV

[Bob S.]

Is there anyone out there in the rowing community who,like me, is into rowing but not racing?
For me the rowing is the thing. Moving a elegant boat through the water in the most efficient way that it is possible for me to do so is my goal
not competition.
I feel that racing is an external and for me, an artificial goal. I am searching for more internal rewards.
Now it is true that I am not a particularly fast rower and perhaps if I was winning more races I would be more into it. But I have won some races in the past and that did not move me the way that rowing alone in the moonlight on a Cape Cod pond, as I did last night, touches my soul.
The rowing community refers to it as "recreational rowing" and treats it like it is a lesser form of the sport. Good perhaps for tyros and old coots but not real rowing.
Let me know your thoughts.
RVV

First I should point out that your message is much more likely to be read if it is posted on the "On the Water" forum. This one, "Links and Articles", is not one of much interest.

I agree with you that recreational rowing is just as rewarding as competition - perhaps even more so. However, in the days when I was still an active rowing club member, I did not get the feeling that it was treated as a lesser activity. We did have plenty of rowers that were mostly interested in competition, but even some of them would occasionally do long rows in that area (Long Beach, CA) just for sight-seeing.

From my own very biased viewpoint, "Real Rowing" is done only only blue water, i.e. ocean rowing, whether for competition, recreation, or work. By work, I was thinking of commercial fishermen, like my own father, who plied their trade in open rowboats. To be fair, this should apply to river and lake fishermen as well. I just never had any acquaintance with those venues.

Bob S.

[fishbust1]

Rvanvoris,
I have no desire to race. I row as fast or slow as I want, when I want, pack a dry bag and go out for hours. I will row until the water freezes. Temperature does not keep me in, only wind/whitecaps keeps me in, then there is the erg.
I like your boat, reminds me of a Levator, a boat I would love to own.

Joe