Breaking Down Barriers to Coastal Rowing

Aim

Help Olderfleet Rowing Club buy a second Swift coastal single to give more people the opportunity to enjoy coastal rowing.

Who are we?

Olderfleet Rowing Club is a volunteer-led coastal rowing club based in Larne, County Antrim. Affiliated with Rowing Ireland, we provide opportunities for people aged 10 to over 70 to enjoy coastal rowing in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.

Over the past few years, our club has experienced significant growth and now has around 80 active members, including a growing number of juniors, women and new adult rowers. Whether someone wants to improve their fitness, compete at national level or simply enjoy being active on the water, our volunteer coaches and experienced members provide the support needed to help them succeed.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to participate in rowing, regardless of age, experience or financial circumstances.

Why are we crowdfunding?

Our existing club-owned Swift coastal single has transformed the way we coach and develop rowers. It provides an invaluable platform for beginners to gain confidence, helps members refine their technique and allows experienced athletes to train independently.

However, as our membership has grown, demand now far exceeds availability. The single is in constant use during coaching sessions and training, meaning members often have to wait for opportunities to use it. This has become a barrier to participation and progression.

We are raising funds to purchase a second Swift coastal single, together with a pair of sculling oars, a launching trolley and a protective cover.

A second single will:

• Increase opportunities for juniors, women and adult members to get on the water.
• Expand one-to-one coaching and skills development.
• Help new members build confidence more quickly.
• Support recreational rowing as well as competitive training.
• Allow members to continue rowing when larger crew boats are unavailable.

By providing shared access to specialist equipment, we will remove the financial barrier of owning a coastal single and ensure more people can participate, progress and remain involved in our sport.

How we'll spend the money raised

Every pound raised will go directly towards purchasing:

Every pound raised through our Crowdfunder campaign will be invested in equipment that will increase opportunities for people to participate in coastal rowing. The funding will enable us to purchase a second Swift coastal single scull, together with a pair of sculling oars, a launching trolley and a protective cover.

This equipment will become a shared club asset, available for coached sessions, Learn to Row programs, junior development, recreational rowing and competition training. By investing in high-quality equipment, we will provide more members with regular access to the water, support their progression and ensure the boat remains a valuable resource for our club and community for many years to come.

Olderfleet Single Sculling Development Program

The purchase of the second Swift coastal single will enable Olderfleet Rowing Club to introduce the following new participation programs, which are additional to our current club activities and will be delivered between September 2026 and 31 March 2027.

Learn to Scull Program – September to October 2026
Participants: Up to 12 members

• Week 1 – Introduction to single sculling, boat handling and water safety.
• Week 2 – Balance, steering and confidence-building exercises.
• Week 3 – Turning techniques and efficient rowing.
• Week 4 – Independent rowing skills and progression into regular club sessions.

Junior Skills Development – October 2026 to March 2027
Participants: 10–15 junior members

• Weekly coached single sculling sessions.
• Development of rowing technique, balance and boat control.
• Progression towards coastal rowing competition.

Beach Sprint Development Program – November 2026 to March 2027
Participants: 10 junior and youth members

• Monthly Beach Sprint coaching sessions.
• Introduction to beach starts and finishes.
• Boat entry and exit techniques.
• Turning skills and sprint racing.
• Development towards regional and national Beach Sprint competitions following Beach Sprint Rowing's inclusion in the Olympic Games program.

Women's Skills & Confidence Sessions – October 2026 to February 2027
Participants: Up to 10 female members

• Monthly coached sessions.
• Confidence building in single sculling.
• Individual technical coaching.
• Progression from crew boats into independent rowing.

Masters & Recreational Development – September 2026 to March 2027
Participants: 10–15 members

• Monthly coached sessions.
• Technical improvement.
• Fitness and confidence development.
• Continued participation in regular physical activity.

Volunteer Coach Development – September 2026 to March 2027

• Increased one-to-one coaching opportunities.
• Small-group coaching sessions.
• Improved coaching capacity through access to a second club single.
• Ability to support more participants during each training session.

Expected Project Outcomes

• Engage over 40 members before 31 March 2027.
• Deliver new participation opportunities that are not currently possible with one club-owned single.
• Reduce waiting times for access to specialist equipment.
• Increase participation among juniors, women, recreational and masters rowers.
• Provide a structured pathway from Learn to Scull through to competitive coastal and Beach Sprint rowing.

Any additional funds raised above our target will be used to purchase essential safety equipment and accessories to support the new boat.

Community impact

This project will benefit our entire club and the wider community.

A second club single will increase access to rowing for juniors, adults and masters, giving more people the opportunity to become active, improve their physical health and enjoy time outdoors. It will support individual coaching, encourage lifelong participation in sport and help members develop the confidence and skills needed to progress into crew boats and competition.

As a volunteer-led club, we are committed to making rowing accessible to everyone, regardless of age, experience or financial circumstances. This investment will continue to benefit hundreds of participants over many years and help us welcome even more people into our rowing community.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways you can help make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge
Every donation, no matter how big or small, brings us closer to purchasing our second Swift coastal single.

2. Share our campaign
Please share our Crowdfunder with your family, friends and colleagues. Every share helps us reach more potential supporters.

3. Offer a reward or sponsorship
If you're a local business, we'd love to hear from you. Donations of goods, services or sponsorship can help us offer rewards to our supporters while promoting your business.

4. Fundraise with us
You can organise your own fundraising activity in support of our campaign. Whether it's a sponsored row, coffee morning or quiz night, every effort helps us get more people on the water.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 7th October 2026 at 12:08pm