It’s been five years since Pat and Deb Sullivan embarked on a journey that has since affected the lives of hundreds of young athletes, older athletes and their families when they started East Bay Rowing.

In 2012, the Barrington couple, both college rowers who met and crewed at the University of Miami, started the club with 12 rowers, four single “sculls,” and one donated eight-person shell. They have since grown the program to 120 varsity and novice rowers, and 17 boats.

The Sullivans and their team of coaches are pleased the program has grown in popularity and the support the community has shown them over the years.

To celebrate the fifth anniversary, they are holding an erg-a-thon on Sept. 10 and are planning an adult cocktail party Nov. 4 at Water Rower in Warren. Both events are fund-raisers. To support the growth of the club, they are raising money to buy additional boats — rowing sculls are expensive, costing about $45,000 each.

Bringing rowing to the East Bay

The vision to start a rowing club in the East Bay was one Deb and Pat dreamed of ever since moving to Barrington in 2001.

“Seeing the river as we drove on Wampanoag Trail, that flat water was calling out for rowers. We saw opportunity with the support in town to share the love of rowing,” Pat said.

Doing their homework, they went through the proper channels with town government to secure permits and ask permission to utilize and launch from town-owned Walkers Farm, on Hundred Acre Cove. EBR falls under the umbrella of the recreation department and $10 from every participant signed-up goes to the town.

“The growth of the club and the support we have received has been amazing. And honestly, we realize that we live in a very recreation-minded town. The middle school basketball courts, town beach and bike path are all heavily used which is great. We hoped that enthusiasm would spill over into rowing and it has. The adults and kids who row with us love being on the water. It is so beautiful,” Deb said.

EBR is a non-profit 501-C3 organization and a member of the nationally recognized US Rowing.

Katie Hutchison, an architect from Warren, is one of dozens of adult rowers who enjoy the program. She has been rowing with EBR for the past four years.

“I learned about it by reading a story in the Warren Times and thought it would be fun. I had no prior fitness experience and was a slower learner. It is an art to get it right and I mastered it with Deb’s help. I love being out on the water, you lose sight of your day-to-day stresses and can enjoy the surroundings. It’s a great way to start your day,” she said.

Adult rowers go out early in the morning or early evening to accommodate work schedules. The youth have practice after school, times dependent on the tide. In inclement weather and in the off-water season, EBR rents indoor space on Cutler Street in Warren with more than 25 ergs for year-round training. They offer youth and adult programming in the winter to keep athletes in good rowing condition. Since it is a club sport, there is a fee to participate.

The rowing family

With more than 120 youth rowers involved, that brings parents and extended family together in support of the program.

“We are like a family. There is great support from the parents of our young rowers, the enthusiasm of our rowers, young and old. We love our rowing family. At regattas, we set up a big EBR tent and everyone brings something to share. They can be all-day events and we need to keep our family fed,” Deb said.

EBR competes in about six regattas per season (spring and fall) and they travel to cities such as Worcester, Lowell and Brewster, Mass. They are hoping to win a lottery spot at the world-famous Head of the Charles in Boston this October.
EBR started out slowly, like any new entity, but in the five years have become a serious competitor at regattas.

“In the beginning, we were the underdogs. Now EBR is in competition for medals against established and larger programs. Our goal is to have our boats get faster every year. We are also proud of the amount of kids who go on to row or coxswain in college,” Deb said.

More than a dozen athletes from EBR have gone on to rowing programs in college.

Elias MacGillivray, a senior at Barrington High School has been rowing with EBR for the past two years.

“There is an excellent and supportive community around rowing and I find it to be motivating and fun to take part in. That’s why I love the sport,” he said.

Rowing, especially in a boat of eight, is more difficult than it looks. Timing, weight distribution and technique are skills that are learned over time.

“We are really proud of our rowers because it isn’t easy," Pat said. "It is somewhat like trying to sprint as hard as you can but in synch with other runners for roughly 6 to 8 minutes. But all that hard work pays off. Rowing rewards your hard work. And all it takes is one perfect stroke and you are hooked."

Like high school sports, they have a banquet after each season and give out awards and recognitions.

“We looked at the number of rowers and calculated that roughly 12 percent of Barrington High School students row with us in the fall and or the spring,” Pat said.
The EBR program is open to anyone, not just Barrington High School students. They have athletes from neighboring communities or those who attend private schools.

“All we ask is attendance and commitment. If only six rowers show up for practice, the eight-person boat can’t go out. It is truly a team effort,” Deb said.

Good workout, safety first

Rowing is a full body, no impact sport. It is a new movement pattern for those new to the sport.

“It promotes great posture which our kids need after working on computers and using phones all day. They all learn about teamwork and the rewards of hard work. And we have a seat in a boat for kids of all abilities, no one sits the bench,” Deb said.

Safety on the water is of utmost importance to the program, sound the club founders. Each participant must pass a swim test and spend time on the water in the learn-to-row program offered over summer break. There is always a launch boat out on the water with the rowers with life jackets, first aid and cell phone service to contact authorities in the event of an emergency.

For more information on East Bay Rowing and directions on how to donate to the erg-a-thon or attend the adult fundraiser, go to their website at www.eastbayrowing.com.