Right Around the River Blog
Richmond Crew Finds Their Boathouse at Rocketts Landing
Post Date: 11-08-2011
Get ready, water sport lovers -- you're about to see more action on the James River. After 10 years without a boathouse to call their own, the University of Richmond's rowing club has found their home base: Rocketts Landing's Raft Building.
Though Rocketts Landing is Richmond Crew's new home, they've actually operated out of the area before. Over a decade ago (before we were here), the club used the old Power Plant -- which now houses Virginia Boat Club (VBC) and the VCU Crew Club downstairs, and The Boathouse restaurant upstairs. At the time, the building was in a less-than-ideal state of operation, so they left the East End of the James River and moved upriver to Robious Landing Park.
“We were running out of our trailer for the past 10 years, which limited the amount of boats we could own,” says Richmond Crew President Catesby Saunders. “And since we didn’t have a roof to put our equipment under, all our stuff was constantly in the elements, so rust was our enemy.”
Then, in 2008, Catesby’s parents moved to Rocketts Landing and soon struck up conversations with the developer about the idea of Richmond Crew relocating back to the area. And so, their relocation — conveniently timed during the off-season — has officially begun.
To prepare their boathouse, they have cleaning, organizing and building to do — including erecting a port to store their shells under. They’re also turning their interior rooms into a workroom and social space for the club.
But perhaps the biggest improvement is their close proximity to downtown and the other rowing teams already here at Rocketts Landing.
“We’re really excited about being with VBC and VCU,” explains Catesby. “By rowing at the same time as the VBC masters programs and being there with VCU, whom we go to the same regattas with, we’ll be strengthening the relationship between our programs.”
We’re excited to welcome Richmond Crew, and can’t wait to see everyone out on the water!