Our Story
I started Longtails Rowing Club because I believed young people deserved to experience the joy of rowing here in Bermuda. I’m the unlikely athlete who first met the sport on the erg—showing up at CrossFit, finding a rhythm, and realizing that, with focus and good guidance, even someone who never thought of themselves as sporty could grow stronger, steadier, and more confident. Along the way, I was welcomed by the Bermuda Pilot Gig Club, a wonderful community that taught me water sense, teamwork, and what it feels like to move a boat together.
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After my first sculling camp in Orlando, Florida, I spent nearly two years searching for a coach and mentor without success. In July 2025, I competed in my first regatta—the Halifax Regatta in Daytona Beach, FL—and medalled in both my events, a double and a quad. Shortly afterward, David Stubbs reached out—he’d seen a photo my mom posted of me with my medals. As we spoke about training, I also shared the vision for Longtails Rowing Club. Consistent youth sculling opportunities didn’t exist before then, so I had already begun organizing a group of young people even before I had a formal sculling lesson in Bermuda. Before long, Coach Stubbs was not only coaching me but also helping more than fifteen young rowers who were eager to learn. He has been gracious and generous with his time.
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Longtails belongs to all of us. We welcome beginners, parents, and anyone who wants to volunteer. We train on land and on the ocean, emphasizing safe technique, smart progress, and the steady character that rowing builds. The name fits our island—although longtails are not endemic to Bermuda, the island hosts a large share of the North Atlantic breeding population. Longtails have extraordinary tails that act as both aerodynamic rudders and flashy courtship banners. Their behavioral flexibility (irregular breeding, storm-avoidance strategies) gives them a resilience many faster birds lack. Like the longtails above our shores, we aim for grace, resilience, and the efficient effort that carries you through wind and weather. The Longtail’s secret superpower is its elegant efficiency—something we strive for at LRC; i.e., we train smart!
A club like this runs on community. Coaches and mentors share skills, volunteers keep a watchful eye on safety, others care for boats, oars, and ergs, and many pitch in with logistics, communication, fundraising, and the quiet administration that holds everything together. Whether you can help once a month or once a week, your time makes a real difference and gives young people a path into a lifelong sport.
If you’re a student curious to take your first strokes, a parent ready to lend a hand, a rower with experience to share, or a supporter who wants to see youth thrive, there is a seat for you. Come say hello, try a session, bring a friend, and help us grow something that truly belongs to the island.
See you on the water,
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