Ocean Rowing has never been more popular than at the present time. With the advent of Woodvale’s expanding calendar of Rowing Races across the globe, the worlds Oceans have never before been more accessible for individuals; from all kinds of backgrounds and nationalities, to row, safely and successfully.

At what we believe will be the start of Ocean Rowings greatest period of growth and success, with more people than ever taking up the challenge of a lifetime and rowing across an Ocean, we think it is vital we remember the foundations and history of Ocean Rowing and the characters that created it.

This section is dedicated to the evolving history of ocean rowers and ocean rowing, from George Harboe and Gabriel Samuelson who started this all off in 1896, through to modern pioneers like Ridgeway and Blythe, Fairfax and Cook, d’Aboville, Baird, and the myriad of diverse characters who have subsequently come together with seemingly one thing in common, a desire to row across an ocean.

As ocean rowing continues to evolve, striving towards new benchmarks of success and endeavour in the 21 st Century, It’s important we remember those that have gone before and their achievements.

We hope you enjoy the history of Ocean rowing and we look forward to adding the names and stories of those that continue to create it.