Ruth Marr presented on how rowing travel can benefit clubs through club development. International examples showed how rowing programs in South Africa used the sport to benefit communities. Rowing The World partners with clubs by renting equipment and providing guides for international rowing trips. Their model could be applied elsewhere by starting with a development tour to identify local guides and confirm a tourism product. Rowing The World has worked with over 30 clubs on trips around the world and suggested various ideas for how Canadian clubs could organize local and international rowing trips to benefit participants and clubs.

1. 2016 RCA NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Session #:
Presented by:
Date:
D23
Ruth Marr
Friday 29 January

2. Page
ROWING TRAVEL AS CLUB DEVELOPMENT
»International examples
»How does Rowing The World work with clubs?
»Application to your club – ideas
Rowing to travel and travelling to row can be a motivation to
continue to train and row beyond competition. How can this assist
Canadian clubs?
OVERVIEW

3. Page
INTERNATIONAL EXAMPLES
» Sport has previously been used as a
means for community development
» NEMATO was started by a Dutch
rowing coach who moved into a
township in Port Alfred, Eastern Cape
» Rowing was the first sport. The
program has grown to include others
including fencing and trampoline.
» Significant progress has been made,
while challenges remain
NEMATO – CHANGE A LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA

4. Page

5. Page
More than rowing

6. Page
FISA DEVELOPMENT ROWING TOUR
» Partnership between World Rowing,
Rowing The World and Rowing
Association of the Maldives
» FISA has had long term plan to
develop rowing in Maldives:
donation of boats and coaches
» Need for sources of cash for many
expenses: rowing tourism
MALDIVES 2015

7. Page
1. Development tour
a) Test concept
b) Identify guides
2. Further tours
a) Confirm best product
b) Further guide training
3. Locally run trips without foreign
tour operator – likely shorter and
more local
MODEL WITH APPLICATION ELSEWHERE

8. Page
HOW DOES ROWING THE WORLD WORK WITH CLUBS?
»Rowing shell rental
–A few hours
–Day
–Multiple days
»Safety boat
»Trailering and transport
»Guides – possibly including food and lodging
»Overnight boat storage
TYPES OF FEES PAID FOR SERVICES

9. Page
»Four Rivers in Ireland
–3 clubs + guide
»Classic River Thames
–5 clubs + guide
»California Dreaming
–5 clubs
»St. Malo
–2 clubs + guide
–Bellagio/Italian & Swiss Lakes
–4 clubs + guide
–South Africa Rowing Safari
–6 clubs
But it is also about connecting
international rowers with local
rowers
NUMBER OF CLUBS WORKED WITH IN 2015

10. Page
APPLICATIONS TO YOUR CLUB
» Rowing The World trips in Canada
– Quebec?
– British Columbia?
– Northwestern Ontario/Manitoba?
» Short, local trips in Canada
– Individual rows or small packages
– Small groups or larger events
– Annual club trip
– Exchanges with other clubs
– Central location for all rowing
travel
– Other ideas?
IDEAS

11. Page
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
The more that we can get rowers to
travel to row and row to travel, the
better for everyone.
THANK YOU!
Ruth Marr
Rowing The World
http://www.rowingtheworld.com/
https://www.facebook.com/rowingthe
world
#RowingTravel