The Piermont Rowing Club was founded in 1999, and currently has about 55 members. We are located in Piermont, NY, on the western shore of the Hudson River where it widens into the Tappan Zee. The majority of our members are adults (Masters) who row for pleasure and exercise. Our season runs from April to November and members stay in touch during the winter via conditioning workouts, a winter potluck party and several club meetings.
Our rowing philosophy matches the unique challenges and opportunities of our rowing environment. While our physical facilities are a bit Spartan, and we must often meet challenges thrown at us by wind, waves and ankle-deep mud at low tide, we also enjoy spectacular Hudson River scenery that is unmatched in any other east coast rowing location. Our members tend to be self-reliant individualists who appreciate the privilege of our relationship with the river so we keep our rules and procedures as simple as possible. We also strive to keep our costs as low as possible by sharing the chores of running the club.
The calmest conditions are usually found in the early morning, and most would agree that the pain of waking up at 5:00 a.m. is well repaid by the beauty of watching the dawn spread across the mighty river and the cliffs along its edge.
Piermont is sheltered from the wind by high cliffs, by the Tappan Zee Bridge, and by a long pier extending out into the river. We are also away from the busy shipping lanes on the eastern shore. Members can row south past the large Piermont Marsh and along the cliffs of the Palisades towards Alpine, or north under the Tappan Zee Bridge towards Hook Mountain, beyond Nyack.
The club's fleet currently includes 2 quads, 3 fours, 1 eight , 3 doubles, and two singles (one men's heavyweight Vespoli and one Alden sea scull). We also own a motor launch for coaching. Our boats are stored on racks in a fenced area leased from the Village of Piermont next to Pirelli Park. Some single scull storage is available on racks that can be rented from a local property-owner nearby.
Some History
The current Piermont Rowing Club was very excited to discover that Piermonts rowing tradition goes all the way back to 1879. Old photographs of an organization called the Piermont Rowing Association turned up in a village attic, and subsequent research has revealed that the first Piermont Rowing Association was organized in October, 1879. In short order, the organization put up an elegant boathouse with a mansard roof during the winter of 1879-80 that included a billiard room. Piermont rowers competed in local races with some success, and several of their trophies are still in a glass case at the Nyack Boat Club. As the national fad for rowing faded and the pollution in the Hudson increased, members sporting interest must have flagged and by 1902, their clubhouse was mainly being used for social affairs. Sometime around 1917, it became the home of the Piermont Knights of Columbus.
Then theres a gap of about 75 years until 1998, when the new Piermont Rowing Clubs first president, Peter Fernberger, decided to start a rowing club for the small group of friends he knew who were rowing together on an informal basis. By 1999, the club became affiliated with the U.S. Rowing Association and by 2000, the club reached its present size of approximately 55 members.
During the 2002 season, PRC moved to a site leased from the Village of Piermont between Parelli Park and the Flywheel Park. We are proud to be able to share in Piermont's long tradition of supporting community athletic organizations. The Village obtained a grant from the State of New York for the construction of an improved launch ramp during 2003, which allows us easy access to the water over the breakwater. In Spring 2009 we will take part in the Quadricentennial celebration of the Hudson River ("Explore NY 400")
Board of Directors, 2009
Ellen Hart, President
Susan DeMocker, Vice President
Kathy Hall, Treasurer
Anita O'Mara, Secretary
Pascal Akesson
Kathy Kearney
Brian Larkin
Contact Us
The Piermont Rowing Club offers a variety of rowing programs geared to all skill levels. For more information, please contact the PRC at:
The Piermont Rowing Club
P.O. Box 443
Piermont, NY 10968
or email the PRC at:
info@piermontrowing.org
Back To Top
Home
|
About PRC
|
News
|
Programs
|
Rules/Protocol
|
Safety
|
Gallery
|
Contact Us
|
Related Links
© 2008 Piermont Rowing Club. All rights reserved.
Site design by
Brightgreen Design
.