Previous Annoucements

Six boats from Rocket City Rowing Club Masters participated in the Masters National Regatta:

• Mixed Four+


• Mens Four+


• Mixed Eight+


• Womens Four+
• Mixed Four+


• Mens 1x

This is first year Rocket City Rowing Club Masters have raced in the Masters National Regatta. Although the crew didn't come home with any medals, they all raced hard and finished in the pack. All the racers agreed that it was a great learning experience and they are excited about training for future competitions. Congratulations to everyone!

At the USRowing Junior National Invitational regatta the RCRC Junior men’s lightweight eight finished 19th overall out of 20 boats, defeating Capital Crew, with a time of 7:04 for 2000 meters. It’s important to note that seven of the nine rowers in that boat will be returning this upcoming season. The two graduates out of the boat are William Weaver and Hank Wilson. On a personal note, William will be attending Auburn and rowing for the Auburn Crew. Hank Wilson will be attending UAH and is looking forward to helping the UAH crew get started again. This is the lst RCRC men’s eight to ever qualify for the US Rowing Junior National Championship. Congratulations to the men's lightweight eight:
Sam Devenish –cox
William Weaver – stroke
Patrick Goss – seven
Chris Hahnemann –six
Wynn Devault –f ive
Patrick Weaver –four
Michael Sanborn- three * started with RCRC in 2006 summer rowing camp, and competed in the Jr National Championships in his first year of rowing.
Sam Wilson – two
Hank Wilson- bow

The RCRC Junior women's lightweight four finished 17th overall, out of 20 crews, defeating Highland Park of Chicago in the C final, with a time of 9:10:89. All members of this boat will be returning for the 2007-2008 rowing year. Congratulations the women's lightweight four:
Lyndsey Nalley –cox
Erin Propst –stroke
Brenna Wilkerson- three
Libby Taylor –two
Susan Hahnemann – bow

This is the third year in a row RCRC has had a lightweight women’s four qualify for the Junior National Championships.

All the members of both boats are first time qualifiers for the Junior National Championships.

See more at the RCRC Junior Hall of Fame.

Construction of the Community Boathouse has begun! In May, the Madison County Commission started preparing the site for construction of the Community Boathouse. Madison County Commissioners donated funds for the three bays of the four bay structure. Rocket City Rowing Club donated $30,000 for the fourth bay to provide space for growth of the RCRC. The University of Alabama in Huntsville Rowing Club will occupy one bay, and one bay is reserved for public use.

From the club President, Glen Yates:
Congratulations Rocket City Rowing Club! On March 30, RCRC presented Ditto Landing with a check for the fourth bay of the Community Boathouse. This is the final action that will now set in motion the building of the new boathouse, and the realization of a dreamsome of us have now carried for many years. The addition of the 4th bay to the Community Boathouse will give RCRC the use of 2 bays, and thus give our club the room to grow. This community boathouse will enhance the quality of life of Madison county by providing its residents with additional recreational opportunities. And, I believe it will mark the beginning of a revitalization and beautification of our riverfront property.
This achievement was not without hard effort, and I'd like to personally thank some of our members whohave made significant contributions to its success: Forrest Sanders, Donna Castellano, Kristine Harding, Elysa Jones, and Jada Leo. Also, we all owe thanks to each member of the Madison County Commission, and of special note: Jerry Craig, Faye Dyer, and Mo Brooks. I would encourage club members and friends of rowing to write a letter to the commissioners thanking them for their support of the Madison County Community Boathouse. And lastly, in celebration of this event, we plan to have a Spring RCRC Membership Meeting and luncheon, tentatively scheduled for April 14th around noon at the site of the new boathouse. This meeting will be open to all junior rowers, junior parents, and master rowers. More details on this will be forthcoming.

Happy Birthday Rocket City Rowing Club! On Sept 29, 2006, we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Rocket City Rowing Club with a party at the Ditto Landing Marina Riverfront Pavillion. The party, hosted by the RCRC Board of DIrectors, will feature a catered dinner, live music and RCRC memorabilia. Friends of Rocket City Rowing for the past decade have been invited.

Congratulations to RCRC Rowers Nick Ritter, Becca Laymon, Catherine Schiro, Joanna Nalley, and Hunter Leo for their outstanding performances at the USRowing National Championship Regatta in Indianapolis last weekend. These RCRC rowers participating in the USRowing Youth Development Camp rowed for the Southeast Juniors in National Championship Regatta, earning a gold medal, two silver medals, and a fourth place finish.

Rocket City Rowing Club is offering an adult rowing class August 17-31, 2006. The class will begin on Thursday the 17th, then meet Saturdays and Sundays from 7-9am, and Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30pm. Optional workouts on the ergometer will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30pm. Contact the Masters Director for more information

Rocket City Rowing Club (RCRC) will be offering an adult rowing class during the month of August 2006. The class will meet Monday-Thursday from 5:30-7:30pm, and Saturdays at 7:30am, for two weeks. The fee for the class can be applied to your club membership if you choose to join the club after the class. Contact the Masters Director for more information

Rocket City Rowing qualified four boats for National competition this year. The four qualifying boats were Wm 1x (Xia), Mens 1x (Nick), the Wm Lwt 4+, and Men's Lwt 4+. Of those, two reached the Finals competition. Nick finished 4th in the 1X. Our Lightweight Wm 4+ of Becca, Kathryn, Joanna, Katie,and Ryan finished 6th. Each boat reached the finals the hard way by rowing through the reps. Rocket City was the only program in the Southeast to put 2 boats in the finals! Congratulations to all the National qualifiers on a great regatta!

RCRC's first Youth Summer Rowing Camp for 12-16 year olds will take place June 19-June 30. Camp hours are M-F from 7:30am to 11:30am. This camp will introduce the sport of rowing, starting with boat parts and common commands, and progressing from rowing dockside to rowing on the water. The last day of camp will include a mini-regatta, where the campers will get to experience a rowing competition.