Clarence River Rowathon

Grafton Rowing Club hosts a rowathon each July/August. The course is 65 kilometres (40.3 miles) from Iluka to Grafton. Crews and scullers have a staggered start from Iluka, starting at 8:45 am (some say the staggering is at the finish!). In last year's event, the first boat arrived in Grafton at 4:00 pm (6½ hours rowing time after a 9:00 start and ½ hour lunch break). The 2002 rowathon is on Saturday, August 3.

Regular rest stops are arranged along the course, as well as a lunch stop, whilst support staff travel by car and power boat. Competitors have the option of rowing the entire distance, or sharing the row with a number of others - many people form two crews and swap over every 10 kms (crew A rows 10 km, then crew B rows 10 km, then crew A gets back in again, etc).

The photo at left shows Grafton sculler Ken Maughan rowing under the Grafton Bridge in the inaugural rowathon in 1997. Less than a km for Ken to get back to the boatshed after rowing the entire course in his old timber scull (in spite of sore hands!)

Emphasis is placed on having fun and the satisfaction of completing the row, rather than simply covering the course as quickly as possible (it is not a race as such, although credit is given for the fastest time). Everyone who completes the course receives a certificate of participation.

The photo at right shows old mates Ken Maughan (left) and Jim Young with their certificates after completing the entire distance in their single sculls in the 1997 Rowathon. Jim (51 at the time) is originally from Grafton, but now rows with Port Macquarie - he was the fastest individual competitor in '97, completing the course in 6 hours 18 minutes. Ken (62 at the time) finished in seven hours neat.

A popular barbecue dinner is held following the completion of the event.

Entry is open to all interested rowers, with regular entries from Grafton, South Grafton, Maclean, Iluka, Lismore and Port Macquarie, as well as Tweed Heads and the Hunter Valley - we have had entries from Queensland, Sydney, Canberra and even Melbourne!. An entry fee is charged (about $25), but this also covers the cost of the dinner. Anyone interested in entering can contact the club.



"F-Troop" (some of our veterans) arrive at Lawrence for a lunch break (yes, they are in an old regulation four!)		Luke Collins and Graham Causley arrive at Lawrence in one of our Sykes double sculls for the Lunch break

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