Rowing Clubs In And Near New York City

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There are a number of rowing clubs in and around New York City. Some are restricted to university crews and junior crews while others are open to all levels of rowers. Here is the information and then below the links are some thoughts on the degree of gay-friendliness.

 

In Manhattan, there is the Peter J Sharpe Boathouse, situated on the Harlem River way up on the East Side.

 

Across the Harlem River, in the Bronx, is the Harlem River Community Rowing Association. They are located at the Roberto Clemente State Park.

 

In Westchester, just over the border from the Bronx, is the Pelham Community Rowing Association.

 

Across the Hudson River, there are three relatively close boathouses in New Jersey:

 

Nereid Rowing Club

Passaic River Rowing Association

Lake Dundee Rowing Center

 

North of Manhattan, in Pelham Manor is where you will find the New York Athletic Club Travers Island Boathouse.

 

 

In terms of predominance of lgbt rowers, most rowers would say the Harlem Community Rowing Association has the biggest numbers. Many GLRF members belong to other clubs, like Nereid and Passaic River. The Peter J Sharpe Boathouse, which is managed by the New York Rowing Association, purposely approached GLRF to start an lgbt crew. From that initiative, Crew New York was born. So to say that the NYRA or the Peter J Sharpe Boathouse are at all non-gay friendly would be a misnomer. The dissolution of Crew New York was due to boathouse structural issues as well as rising fees.

 

One of our members, @brianm, reports that the Pelham Community Rowing Association is very accepting and open to gay and lesbian rowers.

 

As to the New York Athletic Club, there has been homophobic accusations that have been attributed to the club but most GLRF members and their allies report that it is not an un-gay friendly place. Probably the best way to describe NYAC might be something like this: "NYAC does not concern itself with gay-friendliness. We are here to row and train athletes. Period."

 

[Edit] 16 Aug 2011 - In talking with one of our GLRF members at USRowing Masters Nationals, ameredith, he reported that Harlem Community Rowing, although very gay friendly, is a very difficult location. There is no boathouse and the boats are stored in shipping containers. This means that each and every time a boat is launched and returned, it has to be rigged and derigged. This makes the process of practice very time consuming. Something to keep in mind for those considering Harlem Community Rowing