Rowing Sydney Harbour, fantastic!, there is no other feeling quite like it .
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Coastal Rowing and Touring Australia (CRATA) is a Club with members in 4 states and a current fleet of nine boats based in 2 States. Cranbrook School, Sydney and Capital Lakes RC, Canberra also operate Coastal Rowing boats.
Coastal Rowing is an internationally endorsed sport through FISA, the World Rowing Organisation. FISA prescribes specifications for the boat class (for singles, doubles and coxed quads/fours) and sanctions the FISA World Coastal Rowing Championships which is held in a different country annually. In 2012 it will be held in Bari, Italy. The sport is well established in Europe; is quickly evolving in North America but is relatively new to Australia. See www.worldrowing.com/rowing/coastal
Rowing Tours are conducted annually and include Australian and International rowers. photo taken in the Upper Noosa River
The key attributes of coastal rowing boats are their sturdiness, stability and unsinkability. They have sliding seats and use standard oars. They are capable of safely withstanding rough conditions and moderate swells, but are not surf boats and are not suitable for rowing steep waves. They are suitable for excursion across lakes and off the coast or longer expeditions over a number of days. They can go places that it would be too dangerous to take conventional "fine" rowing boats.
CRATA's initial focus is on the recreational and tour aspects of Coastal Rowing. Racing will be a future development as more boats are available and in higher concentrations. Coastal Rowing is conducted in Singles, Doubles and Coxed Quads or Fours. When operating offshore an experienced cox is required.
Most of our Club's members come from a traditional rowing club background with coastal rowing supplementing their other rowing activities. However several new members have been attracted to the sport. Coastal Boats are excellent for teaching basic rowing skills due to there inherent stability.
Trips to Magnetic Is are a regular feature for Coastal Rowers in Townsville. Graham Ward is pictured at the helm.
CRATA's current fleet comprises six coxed quads, two doubles and a coastal single with five boats based in the Brisbane/Noosa area and three in Newcastle and Townsville. The boats frequently row in Moreton Bay off Brisbane, the broadwater and Nerang River on the Gold Coast, the Noosa River, Pumicestone Passage, Lake Cootharaba, the Everglades and Laguna Bay off the Noosa beaches and National Park. The Newcastle boats are used frequently on the lakes, river and off the coast of the Newcastle District. In Townsville rowing includes the harbour, river and off the beaches of Magnetic Island.
As there are no maufacturers of Coastal Rowing boats in Australia, they are fully imported.
Cranbrook School Sydney have taken delivery of two coxed quads plus a coastal double and are using other coastal boats from their shed at Rose Bay in Sydneys outer Harbour. Capital Lakes Rowing Club, Canberra has also taken delivery of two coxed quads which they will operate on the coast, Lake Burleygriffin and in the Snowy Mountain Lakes.
The fleet is growing as interest, knowledge and membership increases and confidence builds in the versatility of the boats. Boats are to be based at other new locations around Australia. Plans are being made to base boats on Sydney Harbour, Melbournes Port Phillip Bay and in the region. 
Dawn on Laguna Bay Crew: Cherie/ Peter/ Wil/ John.
A calendar is being developed for the boats to be based temporarily at various locations around the country. Planned expeditions including rows from Harvey Bay, Wide Bay and Fraser Island and Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne.
You can't beat the excitment of waves lashing the boat, the panoramic scenery with the sun shining off a glassy sea or pulling the boat up on a picture perfect sandy beach with no one else in sight. You can row and take coffee and cake with you or row the coastline and have lunch at a pub. Rowers have been short changed for too long. Come on board and find out what you are missing. Put the excitment back into you rowing. Remember it's not, an "and" "or" thing, you can do both. In the UK and France athletes move freely from Coastal Rowing boats into fine boats and back again with no difficulty. Coastal rowing is often used for endurance training, it's fun and relieves the monotony of early morning rowing to find "flat water" and limited water access.
For information concerning membership email or phone:-
Bronwyn Marler - bronwyn@darvall.com 07 3844 8455; or
Creagh Mecham - cmecham@bigpond.net.au 0400 996 346