Welcome
The section of the Schuylkill River we row is upstream of our boathouse, towards the Route 422 bridge near Valley Forge Park. It is more protected than the lower Schuylkill, leading to lots of beautiful flat water. The typical club row is about 6.5 miles total. Members may row at scheduled club rows as well as when personally convenient and river conditions permit. A popular time to get out on the water is early morning; some rowers start as early as 5 a.m., catching the sunrise and getting a workout before the workday begins.
The club was chartered in September 1986 and has about 85 active members comprising former high school and college rowers, students home for the summer, and those who took up the sport as adults. Members row for many reasons including fitness, the pleasure of the outdoors, social interaction, technique improvement and competition.
P.O. Box 238
Bridgeport, PA 19405
River flow
Upper Merion Boat Club
UMBC ON TWITTER: a Twitter account has recently been created for communications about the King's Head Regatta.
4/6/2013:club rows have begun for 2013. As usual, they will be at 6:45 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings and at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The purpose of club rows is to meet new members - any member capable of completing the 6.5 mile course can get in a boat and not be left on the dock. Club singles will also now be released for use.
3/25/2013: although the calendar says it is spring, the weather and water temperature refuse to cooperate. The water temperature is currently in the low 40s - rowing of club singles remains restricted until the water temperature rises above 50 degrees.
SPRING ROWER'S BREAKFAST: the second annual Spring Rower’s Breakfast was held on Saturday, March 23rd after a brisk (read that as chilly) 7 a.m. club row. About 25 UMBC members attended this “kick off to spring” breakfast at Michael’s Deli in King of Prussia. Certificates of accomplishment were awarded to those UMBC members who rowed 1,000 miles or more in 2012. These members included Carleton Goodnow (1,002 miles), Lee Benham (1,009 miles), Laurie Lawton Smith (1,143 miles), Joe Hartnett (1,296 miles), Cynthia Carolan (1,405 miles), Larry Carolan (1,692 miles), Mark King (2,089 miles) and Terry O’Leary (4,401 miles). In addition, Lee Benham sponsored a crystal trophy for the most senior club member who rows at least 1,000 miles in a calendar year. At 80 years old, Lee herself qualified this year by rowing 1,009 miles. This is a significant accomplishment and a challenge to other senior rowers to catch her.
NEW BOATS: two new boats are on the way. The club has ordered a light-weight (115 to 145 pound) single and a mid-weight (145 to 175 pound) single. This will increase the light- and mid-weight singles fleet to two and three boats, respectively. Delivery is expected in early May.
01/16/13: best
wishes to all of our rowers in 2013 for a safe and healthy rowing season. The annual First Row of the Season took place on New
Year’s Day. All together there were four boats on the water. This traditional row kicks off the 2013 season and starts many of
our rowers on their quest to row 1,000 miles or more over the next 12 months. UMBCCRR acknowledges those rowers who can complete at
least 1,000 miles in a year with a certificate of accomplishment. For those who have not yet attempted this 1,000 mile goal,
it is pretty hard to do but very satisfying if you make it. If you are a UMBCCRR rower who completed at least 1,000 miles
in 2012, you should present your mileage (listed in the log book) to the Commodore or other Board Member so you can be included for
a certificate acknowledging your accomplishment.
WINTER ROWING REMINDER: rowing is alive and well during the winter at
UMBCCRR. Boats are in the water nearly every winter morning. If you are interested in some brisk winter rowing, use the Google
Group e-mail to either find a seat in an existing boat, or to put together a boat of like-minded winter rowers (caution: early-winter
morning rowing is usually done in the dark so an experienced bow person is recommended).
COLD-WEATHER ROWING: the end of daylight savings marks the end of Tuesday & Thursday club rows for the season. Saturday & Sunday club rows may still be available to all members until the temperature discourages participation. Please arrive at 6:45 a.m. to be on the water by 7:00 a.m. Members are still welcome to organize boats on their own schedules, and are encouraged to use Google Group email to confirm participation. Also, members will be notified when the use of club singles is discontinued because of sustained water temperatures below 50 degrees.
EQUIPMENT APPRECIATION DAY: our annual “Equipment Appreciation” day was held on Saturday May 19, 2012 following the regular club row. Thanks to our club member volunteers who washed, waxed, tightened, repaired, replaced parts and adjusted many of the club boats and oars. In addition, the boathouse got swept out and some river debris was cleared from under the railroad bridge. Thanks again to all of our volunteers.
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ANNUAL MEETING AND HOLIDAY PARTY: the annual meeting and holiday party were held on Friday night, December 2nd, and hosted
by UMBC member Karen DelRaso. The business portion of the meeting included the election of officers with the following results:
Commodore
– Joe Hartnett
Vice Commodore – Laurie Lawton-Smith
Treasurer – Susan Smith
Secretary – Bill Howard
Members at Large – Larry Carolan,
Ed Kelly and Mark King
After the election, the business portion of the meeting ended and the party portion of the meeting resumed.
There was plenty of food provided by the members and there was lots of laughter and good conversations. All together, there were
about 30 members in attendance. Our thanks go out to Karen for being our hostess. This is Karen’s third time hosting the event (we
didn’t scare her off the first two times) and we certainly appreciate her support of the club.
ASTEROID ROW: seventeen enthusiastic
rowers showed up on Tuesday evening, November 8th, for another celestial-event themed row. This time it was Asteroid 2005 YU55 passing
fairly close to Earth (198,000 miles). Unfortunately the asteroid was not visible to the eye but the evening was clear and star filled,
and the moon was just about full. It was a really beautiful night on the water for the 4 quads and 1 single out there rowing in the
dark. Afterwards, all went out for pizza and “beverages” at Franzone’s in Bridgeport. Thanks to Laurie for coordinating the event
and to all the rowers who participated.
BEWARE OF HUNTERS: hunters have been encountered recently near the up-river end of the
island. For visibility in the darkness it is extremely important to have both bow and stern lights on and flashing, even if there
is some daylight. Hunting is not allowed on the island or the railroad property. If you observe anyone hunting on these properties,
hunting boats docked at either property without hunters on board, or hunting boats moving on the river without lights, please phone
Officer Krall at the number located in the boathouse.
2011 KING'S HEAD REGATTA: the 2011 regatta results are posted here and on the
Regatta Page. Thanks to all who volunteered their time to see that things went smoothly.
HURRICANE IRENE: special thanks to those members
who prepared the boathouse for Hurricane Irene as well as those who cleaned up in the aftermath. The USGS data show that the river
crested at 80,000 cubic ft per second with a nearly 20 ft gauge height. This was the 4th highest crest on record.