Welcome to Bowdoin Rowing!
Bowdoin Rowing is a competitive club sweep rowing program that welcomes student-athletes from across the country. Our team includes rowers with backgrounds in both sweep and sculling, as well as newcomers who discover the sport here through our strong learn-to-row program. In fact, many of our varsity athletes first picked up an oar during their first year at Bowdoin.
Both the men’s and women’s crews have earned distinction for Bowdoin in regional, national, and international competition. The program has captured numerous medals—including gold—at the New England Rowing Championships, the Dad Vail Regatta, the Head of the Charles Regatta, and the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) National Championship. Bowdoin crews have also represented the College at the Henley Royal Regatta and Henley Women’s Regatta.
Our team trains on the beautiful New Meadows River from our new home, the Steinwachs Family Boathouse, completed in 2025. We compete in both the fall head race and spring sprint seasons.
Join us! For more information about rowing at Bowdoin, please visit our prospective rowers page to contact one of our coaches. We would love to hear from you!
Our Core Values
Safety
Because rowing is a water sport, safe operation of all equipment and safe behavior from all participants is our first and most important priority.
Generosity
As a rower you learn to give of yourself: to your boat, to the program, on and off the water. Rowing is a racing sport, and in training as well as races, you learn to give yourself to the point of emptiness, to achieve a fullness only racers know.
Reliability
Members of your boat, and the whole program rely on your presence and generosity. Five people make the boat go; relying on your crew to give as much as your give is the foundation of the sport.
Humor
Our motto is Remigio Delectate et Remigate Velociter, meaning “have fun and go fast.” Fun means we enjoy one another in good humor. The balance to the strenuous work is fun, laughing with one another and enjoying the company of safe, generous and reliable boat folk.
Speed
It’s more fun to go fast. We race to win. We win when we make the boat go as fast as we can, as well as when we go faster than any other crew in the race. All our actions in and out of the boat focus on making the boat go fast.