Coastal Rowing

Overview

'Benfleet Yacht Club Coastal Rowers' (BYCCR) are an active section of rowing enthusiasts. The club own a number and variety of fixed and sliding seat coastal rowing craft, which are available for all members to use. Many of our rowing members compete in major events in other parts of the UK and on the near continent.

Benfleet Yacht Club also organise the annual "Round Canvey Race", a Rowing, Row Sail or Paddle event: a 14 1/2 mile circuit round the entire coast of Canvey Island. The current fastest time is "1 hour and 44 minutes".

Click here for further details of the "Round Canvey Race"

Calendar of Rowing Events

Full details of all future BYC Coastal Rowing events can be found in the

BYC Calendar

The above link connects to the BYC central events calendar, but has been filtered to Rowing Events only

Alternatively, you can download a PDF copy of the Benfleet Yacht Club Tide Table Booklet from the link below

2025 Programme Handbook.pdf

Our Fleet:

We have an eclectic mix of fixed seat and sliding seat coastal rowing craft for use by all Benfleet Yacht Club members:

A message from Penny Lowen, BYC Coastal Rowing Captain:

Benfleet Yacht Club Coastal Rowers was formed in January 2018 when Southend Coastal Rowing Club integrated into Benfleet Yacht Club. This has been a fabulous opportunity and now there are exciting times are ahead for water sports on the East Coast.

The facilities here at BYC, along with its location, are enabling the new BYCCR's to be the foremost British Rowing affiliated coastal sliding seat & gig rowing club around the Essex coast. Depending in which direction we row we can either be in calm creeks or in open seas.

We have both fixed seat and sliding seat boats, and row all year round. We encourage people of all fitness levels and ability to have a go. We have crews for most people.

The 2 fixed seat boats are a 4-man gig, Rozinante and 2-man skiff, Silverback and they are great for introducing newcomers to the sport. Both have coxes.

Sliding seat boats usually tend to be thought of as the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race type. These 'fine boats' are not really suitable for our choppy waters, so we have coastal versions that are more solidly built and have more freeboard. We also have a FISA international standard coastal racing single. This is designed specifically for rough coastal water and being self-draining can take most of what the weather can throw at her - as we can vouch for! Our three Mondegos were originally designed as sliding seat training boats but being relatively stable craft with good freeboard, they are ideal for rowing on our water. Again, great for beginners. For the rowers with more competency we have technical singles to put you through your paces and a coastal four.

Since 2011 Benfleet Yacht Club has organised the 'Round Canvey Race' in July a rowing/sailing/paddling race of 14 ½ miles. We have had kayaks, surf skis, Canadian canoes, outrigger canoes, rowing boats of all types and various sailing dinghies. It proved to be such a success it has now been turned into an annual event. Each year the race attracts crews from all over the country and grows year on year.

You will find us most weekends rowing around Benfleet Creek or out towards Southend Pier. We also regularly venture further afield to race against other clubs. This is usually up the East Coast or The Great River Race, known as the Thames marathon, from Greenwich to Richmond. We also go on recreational tours. We have rowed 200km over a week along the Canal du Midi in France, and closer to home a few days on the Norfolk Broads.

If you would like to know more about rowing at Benfleet Yacht Club, or to give rowing a try, please contact our Rowing Captain, Penny Lowen. Click here to send an email.

Whether you be 14 or 84, new to a sport or coming back to it, you are more than welcome to come and visit us.

'Benfleet Yacht Club Coastal Rowers' Facebook page

Rowing Boat / Dinghy Park Storage Space Application

Members are required to reserve a space in the rowing boat / dinghy park prior to bringing a boat on site.

Please make sure that your boat name or number is visible externally and that it is tied down securely.

To request or cancel a space, or notify a change of boat, please contact the Dinghy Park coordinator, Ian Bunyan, by email advising all of the details listed below.

Members Name | Address | Telephone No. | Boat Type: Sailing Dinghy, Rowing Boat, Kayak. RIB or Dory etc

Boat Class | Length & Beam | Boat Name or Sail / Hull Number | Colour or any other identifying features

DINGHY & ROW BOAT PARK RULES

1. Dinghy Park spaces are allocated to members. The Dinghy Captain must be notified in writing if members either require a space or change their boat.

2. Either the boat's name or sail number must be clearly marked on hull to provide identification.

3. All dinghies must be adequately tied down; preferably be using stakes into the ground.

4) Member are required to keep their allocated dinghy space tidy, free from weeds or debris and with the grass cut where appropriate.

----------

USE OF BYC OWNED ROAD TRAILERS "ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS" (dinghy and rowing boat trailers etc)

When using a club trailer to transport club or personally owned boats the following will apply:

General

• All members / users must comply with road trailer and towing laws and rules.
• All members / users are responsible for ensuring the trailer is roadworthy suitable for road use.
• The member / user must provide a suitable lighting board with their registration number plate etc.
• All boats / loads must be securely and safely tied down / fastened to the trailer.

Insurance

• Please note that whilst towing a club trailer and whilst attached to the towing vehicle, the trailer with club boats or personally owned boats, the third-party liability insurance is covered by the towing vehicle's insurance.
• Any material damage to the trailer or boat belonging to the club is covered by the club's insurance. Any material damage to personally owned boats/belongings is not covered by the club's insurance.
• This is a legal requirement and cannot be varied or amended.

Benfleet Yacht Club "Coastal Rowers" Documentation

Scroll down to the 'Download' area at the bottom of this page to view the following rowing related documentation:

General Rowing Full Risk Assessment

Pre-activity Checklist

Principles of Coxing

Rowing Risk Feasibility Matrix

Standard Operating Procedures

BYCCR Handbook

BYCCR Club Safety Policy

BYCCR Emergency Action Plan

Downloads

• BYCCR Standard Operating Procedures Oct 2023.pdf
• BYCCR Rowing Risk Feasibility Matrix v4 Oct 2023.pdf
• BYCCR Emergency Action Plan Oct 2023.pdf
• BYCCR Club Safety Policy Oct 2023 .pdf
• BYCCR general rowing Full Risk Assessment Oct 2023.pdf
• BYCCR Handbook Nov 2023.pdf
• BYCCR Pre-activity Checklist Oct 2023.pdf
• BYCCR Principles of Coxing.pdf