Our Mission
Port Rowing builds strength and character, teaches sportsmanship and discipline, and instills self-confidence for teens and adults on Long Island through the sport of rowing.
We believe that rowing builds strong bodies and that athletic competitions builds strong minds. We welcome and train the novice rower and strengthen competitive rowers.
Our Goal
Our goal is for each rower to maximize his or her athletic potential. Rowing is an opportunity to build endurance, personal ability, courage, strength and teamwork. ‘We hope every rower will discover the powerful connection between themselves, their boat, their teammates, and the water. We believe this connections builds character and an abiding affinity for our environment.
Our History
In 2010, Port Washington resident Monika Dorman brought together a group of rowers and community leaders to pursue her vision of a rowing club for the children of Port Washington. Monika, a rower herself, recruited Mitch Tamkin, a former collegiate and US Junior National Team rower and other accomplished rowers to be the original coaching staff. The coaches were joined by community leaders to form Friends of Port Rowing. Together the work began to build a fleet of boats and recruit the first team. In April 2011, 94 novice rowers took to the water from the Village Club of Sands Point with Steve Panzik as head coach. In that first season, the new rowers medaled 5 times at the Big Duck Regatta, the Boys Four won a gold medal at the Long Island Championships. The Girls Novice Four became New York State Champions in Saratoga. That was just the beginning.
Each season since, the junior teams have made it to the medals podium at regional and national competitions. In the 9th spring season, Port Rowing once again became New York State Champions in the Women’s Pair, Men’s Novice Four, and Men’s Freshmen Eight. In the summer of 2019, Port Rowing proudly supported the rise of junior rower, Lindsey Rust to compete on the US Rowing Junior National Team at the Junior World Championships in Tokyo. In less than 10 years, Port Rowing has become one of the largest rowing teams in New York State competing successfully at the national level, with programs for adults as well as youth of all abilities, inclusion those which special needs. Port Rowing remains true to the original spirit of an open and welcoming community or rowers of all levels who are passionate about the sport and the community.