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The most important part of the GCMR training programme? Some might say it's technique. Others would argue it's fitness, teamwork or preparation for the next regatta. At Gold Coast Master Rowers, we know there's another essential component: coffee at Cafe on South Bay! Weekend rows are followed by catching up, sharing stories and occasionally sharing a muffin or cake with a single candle to celebrate a birthday. And for our retired rowers? Who says coffee has to wait until the weekend?

“Easy oar”, “let it run”, “bow pair” and the slightly alarming “I caught a crab”. 🦀 To rowers, it all makes perfect sense. To everyone else, we may as well be speaking another language. Our latest blog translates some of the strange things you’ll hear around GCMR and what rowers really mean when they say them.

We check the wind before our messages, secretly celebrate the occasional cancelled row, blame the boat and have definitely raced another crew who had no idea they were racing. 😂 It’s time to come clean. Confessions of a Masters Rower reveals the habits, excuses and little secrets that every rower will recognise… even if they won’t admit to them.

There’s a new member at GCMR, sleek, attractive, in excellent physical condition and already extremely popular. Meet our shiny new boat as we put it through the all-important GCMR member profile. Likes: flat water, clean catches and being admired. Dislikes: crabs, collisions and rowers blaming their equipment.

What starts as a simple “give it a go” often becomes a lifelong passion. For Gold Coast Master Rowers members Lea and Jolien, rowing has delivered friendship, challenge, community and countless sunrises on the water. Following their recent Bells of Queensland award win, we spoke to the pair about their rowing journey, what motivates them to keep pushing forward, and why it’s never too late to start, or return to the sport.