FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LEARN-TO-ROW COURSES

Getting to Hanlan Boat Club

We are located in the Toronto Portlands near Cherry Beach. Directions to get to our club by car, bike and transit are on our contact page.

Before your first day

Rowing Canada, together with RowOntario, charges a one-time annual fee of approximately $65 to all registered participants in the sport of rowing, for insurance and other services. This fee is included in our price for Learn-to-Row 101. We will contact all Learn-to-Row 101 participants on or after April 1, 2025, and we will ask you to create an account with Rowing Canada; we cannot do this on your behalf.

First day

Please arrive at Hanlan Boat Club a few minutes early. If the gate is closed, please wait and the coach will let you in. The class will start with introductions, a boathouse tour, an introduction to rowing equipment and an introduction to the parts of the rowing stroke, either on rowing machines or at the docks. We will then review our water safety policies, carry our boats to the water and begin to row as a full crew.

There will be a short bio and water break scheduled in the middle of each class.

What should I wear?

  • Wear snug or fitted athletic clothing; baggy shorts and loose t-shirts will get caught in the oars and tracks.

  • Dress in layers, it may be cold when you arrive but once you get moving you will become very warm.

  • Wear socks (our boats have shoes in them), but bring old shoes or water shoes.

  • Wear hat, sunscreen and sunglasses (snug sport style or with a strap) as we will be rowing until noon.

What should I bring?

Please bring:

  • water in a refillable water bottle; we have a water cooler on site for refills.

  • a towel and change of clothes; we are a water sport and row in light rain, so you may get wet!

  • if you wish to bring your phone with you in the boat, we strongly advise that you bring a floating waterproof case for it as it may fall in the lake.

Safety equipment

  • All safety equipment is provided by the club.

  • We encourage all new rowers to wear lifejackets, but they are mandatory only for juniors (ages 11-18), non-swimmers, or if the coach deems it necessary.

  • Additional lifejackets and first aid supplies are carried in the coach boat that will accompany all learn-to-row crews.

  • An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is located in the boathouse.

Safety Policies

  • Please familiarize yourself with our Safety Policy. Your coach will also review the basic safety rules with you.

  • As an outdoor water sport, weather and water conditions will determine whether it is safe to row.

Cancellations and Make-Up Classes

In the event of adverse weather, we will work on indoor and dockside rowing skills; however, if this is impossible and we decide to cancel, we will schedule a make-up class for you at no additional charge. If you are unable to attend the make-up class, you will receive a full refund if the entire course is cancelled, or a 50% refund if only half the course is cancelled.

If you decide to cancel your registration in a learn-to-row course, you must provide us with at least 48 hours notice, to give us time to add someone from our waitlist to the class. If you provide such notice, we will charge you a $100 administative/convenience fee and refund the balance of your payment. If you do not provide 48 hours notice, you will not receive any refund. Exceptions may be made only for valid medical reasons, with a doctor’s note.

Further questions

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us communications@hanlanboatclub.ca.