Getting outside on the ocean, river or lake in an “all water” rowing boat equipped with sliding seat, rowing gear, and lightweight carbon fiber sculling oars can change your life for the better in small ways that are big.

1. Less Boredom—More Adventure!
Less staring at the same four walls on the same rowing machine, doing the same motions, in the same room temperature. With outdoor rowing it’s always changing, views, wind, waves. It’s so much more of an adventure!

2. Less Stress—More Peaceful, Happy Feelings!
Less tense muscles and mind load. Rhythmic breathing produced by rowing greatly reduces mental stress.

3. Fewer Health Issues—More Ease of Movement and Fitness!
Fewer aching joints, weak muscles, less weight gain, depression, etc.

4. Less Stale Air—More Fresh, Crisp, Oxygen-Rich Air!
No odors produced by sweaty gym rats or the recycled indoor air of the gym.

5. Less Pollution—More Clean Air to Breathe! More Nature Sounds!
Less stinky exhaust gasses, less noise, no fossil fuel consumption. Leaves no oily footprint behind.

6. Less Noise—More Sounds of Nature. More Serenity!
No roar from an engine and no yelling over it to be heard. Less disturbed and frightened wildlife. Noise travels a greater distance over water.

7. Less Chronic Pain—More Fun Moving!
Less need for medication for arthritis; less stiffness, faster healing of damaged joints. Rowing is a great way to warm up the joints.

8. Less Impact On Your Body—More Time Feeling Great!
Less need for surgeries due to impact on connective tissues of knees or hips causing joint damage as with jogging, etc. Rowing: a symmetric, balanced loading of 90% of the body’s muscles in a smooth fluid motion.

Rowing is one of the best health and fitness activities in existence. It’s a total body workout that is gentle and effective. An all water rowing/sculling boat is safe and can easily handle wind and waves. Some are even available with sails, which adds yet another dimension to being out on the water all year long.
 
Written by Marie Hutchinson, co-founder of Whitehall Rowing & Sail
 

Here at SCA we’re slowly putting together an article on the best places in North America to sail a small boat, and we’d love to hear what our readers have to say—in fact we need to hear what they say! Where are your favorite cruising grounds? How about sharing that special sailing spot?

Certainly the Florida Keys, San Juan Islands, and North Channel are popular—and we’re happy to have you vote for them—but how about some lesser-known locales? Maybe that little Midwestern lake near you has its own special charm? Perhaps you’ve never found any place more fun than that creek or pond down the road from your house.

While scenery and weather have a lot to do with great sailing venues, there are other considerations as well. Maybe it’s a hidden boat-in campground, a special dockside eatery, or a maritime museum that make a place your personal favorite. Perhaps it’s a yearly boat show or messabout that attracts you, or the welcoming warmth of the locals—whatever it is we want to hear about it.

Your feedback and that of other readers will aid us in our never-ending quest for small-boat paradise. Please consider adding your thoughts to the comments at this blog post or we’d be happy to receive an e-mail with your suggestions. We might even use your quote when we write the eventual article. —Eds

From Jackie Monies:

Sail Oklahoma 2014, a boating festival unlike any other in America is returning for a fifth year.

Held annually on Lake Eufaula, OK, over Columbus Day weekend, five days covering October 8 through October 13 this year, Sail Oklahoma began as an idea to hold an informal event that incorporated lots of boating, lots of educational programs, as many boats as could be gathered and a diverse group of builders and boaters. It has attained that goal and more.

Best described as a messabout on steroids, international designers come together to teach and play, veteran builders and sailors put in their oars and boats, combined with newcomers, multi-generational families and a host of canine sailors. Food and music play an important part. This year’s concerts on Saturday night are headlined by Kelly McGuire, a national writer of boat and sailing songs.

John Welsford of New Zealand, Michael Storer of Australia, and Richard Woods of Canada, headline a crew of top designers. Dave Gentry, Jim Michalak and Graham Byrnes represent American designers. All will present programs and seminars, building demonstrations, and sail and mix with attendees all weekend.

Sean Mulligan of Sail Havasu and Lezlie Henson of Key West, FL will talk about building and sailing the Matt Layden designed Paradox. Michael Storer and Shawn Payment will entertain with building and paddling canoes down the Loire River. Bob and Virgene Trygg will discuss building a Tahitian Ketch and then sailing to the Keys—all to inspire and challenge people to live their dreams.

Important this year is emphasis on building and sailing boats that can be righted, recovered and reentered safely. Richard Woods, John Welsford, Graham Byrnes and others will all contribute to this subject and boats will be capsized and safety addressed.

While serious in teaching and learning, mostly Sail Oklahoma is about having fun in small boats. All types of boats, sizes, propulsion, materials are welcome—from canoes and kayaks to multi-hulls and sailboats. Races are fun-filled to inspire sailors to learn while laughing, chasing other boats and maneuvering in close quarters. You just have to see it to understand; boating is fun.

Contact Mike and Jackie Monies at m_monies@yahoo.com for more information. For despite all this, the event is privately sponsored in their back yard and neighborhood beach launch. No fees, no requirements more than that you like boats and want to learn what makes them an adventure and fun.

MAGNOLIA BEACH, TX—There are a number of ways one can win the annual SCA Helmsman of the Year award. Essentially all of them involve establishing oneself as a hero of the small-boat community, either through acts of extraordinary audacity at the actual helm of a small boat, or selfless acts of thoughtfulness and generosity at a virtual helm somewhere in the small-boat world.

This year we honor a man who’s done as much as anyone to support small-boat sailing and building—both through his business and in tireless personal efforts—Chuck Leinweber.

Using his popular online blog and chandlery, Duckworks, as a platform, Chuck has sponsored or otherwise supported numerous small-boat events. In 2007 he personally founded the Texas 200, a popular group sailing event that continues to generate excitement and bring new people into sailing, and this year he’s helping launch the first ever Ply-Wooden Boat Festival in Port Aransas, Texas. But Chuck’s contributions are often less heralded and more personal, as with the many times we’ve seen him quietly setup and even contribute to impromptu online fund-raising efforts for sailors in distress.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the small-boat and sailing world, congratulations and the 2014 SCA Helmsman Award go to Chuck Leinweber—a genuine “nice guy” and a true friend and benefactor to our community. •SCA•

Chuck Leinweber at the helm.