Megunticook Rowing is a community-based program

At Megunticook Rowing, we’re more than just a rowing club — we’re a community-based program that brings people together on and off the water. Your sponsorship helps keep that spirit alive by ensuring we can offer a first-rate, year-round experience to rowers of all ages and experience levels — from middle schoolers discovering the joy of teamwork, to high school athletes standing out in their college search to masters deepening their lifelong love of the sport.

How your sposorship helps:

Your sponsorship dollars pay for myriad budget items from coaches’ salaries, and equipment needs to rent and insurance. Sponsorship dollars also provide financial aid so our youth athletes have the opportunity to participate, regardless of means. Many of our youth rowers go on to medal at regional regattas and attract collegiate rowing opportunities, a testament to the strength of our coaching and the community support that fuels their success. Colleges and universities such as Bates, Bowdoin, Connecticut College, Dartmouth, Trinity, UMaine, University of California Berkeley, Wesleyan, and Williams College. 

Better winter training for masters:

We are also growing our masters memberships through multiple offerings both on and off the water. This winter, we are offering free Learn-to-Row sessions for first-timers, indoor rowing programs for novice, recreational and competitive masters. These new programs provide a great way for them to meet other masters’ rowers. We expect to attract a dozen new masters rowers through these offerings.

Expanding youth engagement:

Our full-time Head Coach, Bob van Twyver, along with several board members, are visiting local middle schools this winter to grow our club program. The enthusiasm has been contagious, and we’re confident these outreach efforts will lead to new sign-ups. Our current programs are not sustainable at their present small size. We need to rebuild the club and varsity teams to their pre-COVID levels, with 40–50 middle school and high school athletes. Having a dedicated coach leading this initiative is essential.

Dirigo Sprints and Megunticook Regatta

We are already planning for our 5th annual Dirigo Sprints Regatta. Held on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, Megunticook Rowing hosted 75 high school athletes from ME and MA at the 2025 edition. This regatta is the finale of the spring rowing season and is growing in popularity. Participating clubs love our spectacular venue, where the mountains meet the lake. There are good signs that the 2026 Dirigo Sprints will attract more teams.

The 32nd Megunticook Regatta launches the fall regatta season for the high school teams and is a destination regatta for Masters Rowers. Lobsters given to first place finishers, and a blueberry pancake breakfast for all gives the event a Maine-flare that has participants coming year after year.

Investing in Megunticook Rowing strengthens our community:

These efforts are all part of the growth we believe our community deserves.

We ask you to support our mission to strengthen minds, bodies, and community by making a tax-deductible donation to Megunticook Rowing.