The Vashon Island Rowing Club
VIRC is a private, non-profit club that offers competitive and recreational rowing for youth and adult members of the Vashon Island community. Our Club is diverse in age, gender and skill levels, offers opportunities to row competitively or recreationally, and connects its members with our marine environment. We are supportive as teammates and enjoy each other’s company, both on and off the water. Our venue is remarkable for its natural beauty and variety of rowing options. We have taught more than 500 people to row and sent dozens of Juniors to college on rowing scholarships.
Vashon Women’s Rowing Club and its original shell in 1990.
History
In 1990, Celia Congdon placed an ad in the Beachcomber looking for other women who were interesting in learning how to row. While there were many rowing clubs in Seattle that offered classes, taking the ferry into the city wasn’t an option for women with young families and jobs. Since they all they lived on an island and had access to water they decided to start their own club.
They pooled their money, reached out for advice from other clubs, and bought a used wooden Pocock 4+. The Vashon Women’s Rowing Club was born.
They kept their boat on slings in Marion Robbins’ back yard, and launched it from her beach on outer Quartermaster Harbor.
The first couple of years included storing their shell in a chicken coop during the winter and a rotation of guest coaches who helped teach the basics. How do you step into the boat, again?
In its third year, the Club expanded to include men and changed its name to the Vashon Island Rowing Club. The initial shell, which was demolished by a falling Madrona branch, was replaced with two used fiberglass Vespoli 4+s.
The Club attracted a real coach in Claire Lichtenfels, who had recently stroked for Brown University during the Steve Gladstone years, and secured a launch so she could coach from the water.
VIRC began to be noticed for its competitiveness. The Club replaced its t-shirts with uniforms, and wooden tulip oars with fiberglass hatchets.
By the mid-’90s it was clear that the Club needed a boathouse. We were outgrowing Marion’s back yard and we wanted to include junior rowing.
Bruce Morser, Bob Horsley, Jim O’Brien, Scott Englehard, Cindy O’Brien, c. 1996
VIRC’s 20th Anniversary gathering at Ron & Marion Robbins’ home, 2010.
In 2000, in partnership with Vashon Park District, the Club was awarded a grant by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to build the initial phase of the Boathouse that is our home today. The Club secured a second grant in 2016 to complete the boathouse.
A number of coaches have come and gone in the past three decades and hundreds of youth and adult Islanders have learned to row. We are proud of the student-athletes who have gone off to row at college, many of them on rowing scholarships, as well as the medals and ribbons we have won. Celia and a number of those early rowers continue to be members today; enjoying aging into the G+ racing categories. The Club continues to be dedicated to community fellowship and its original can-do spirit.