For prospective new members who have no prior rowing experience, the first step is to teach basic technique on an indoor rowing machine. This establishes posture and body position and movement throughout the stroke. After this, prospective members will be taken out in a boat for a short row in one of our stable quad boats to apply the rowing technique using two oars (sculling). This repeats as per our three free row policy.

After members have joined ERC, they become classified as a ‘Red’ member. This indicates they are a beginner and still learning to row. The rower will be taken for increasingly longer rows in a range of sea and weather conditions to build their experience.

Once the member has learned and can apply all the basic techniques in a range of conditions, and row a distance of 8Km, they can become classified as ‘Amber’ rowers. ‘Green’ rowers are those who can demonstrate ‘Amber’ rower abilities and who have also successfully completed out coxing program and can safely cox a boat in a range of conditions.