With the aid of Sport England Sports Match funding and sponsorship from the company of our Life Vice President Joe Woods, the club were able to buy new boats to get out on the water in the rougher weather. Two quad sculls and a double scull are now available to members for both training and competition. These boats can withstand winds of up to Force 6 on the sea.

Offshore Rowing is more easily learnt than Fine Boat rowing due to more stable and robust boats. However, different skills are required to get the most out of the boats in more trying conditions than experienced on the rivers. Rowers have to be aware of tides and currents and learn to surf the waves to their advantage.

In competition, the boats are raced over a longer standard distance of 8 kilometres without lanes and usually on a triangular course. Now becoming ever popular, Offshore Rowing is now contested internationally at many events including the FISA World Rowing Coastal Championships for clubs.

The Club has now competed in several 8k Coastal Regattas including the Breakwater Bash, Exmouth Triangle and our own Thatcher Rock 8k race held for the first time in 2009.

For those wanting a bigger test, Mayflower Offshore Rowing Club also host the annual Eddystone Challenge, a gruelling 28 mile row from Plymouth Sound around the Eddystone Lighthouse and back again.