Unlike many counterpart riverine cities in New England and the Mid Atlantic states, today well-known for their rowing clubs harking back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the development of the rowing scene in Jacksonville was later to come about, but less frantic, less restricted by the seasons, and less affected by the whims and drama of the sport’s politics influenced by tight proximities in those regions. Here, rowers, coxswains, and coaches could focus on their programs, technical craft, and training year-round on swathes of excellent water, unlike so many grounded indoors by weather half the year. Primarily affiliated with local schools, Jacksonville-based crews would travel to distant regattas to compete with other top rowers and scullers in the country, then return home to prep for their next athletic achievement on the national (and world) stage. Masters rowing in Jacksonville was of lesser prominence, and didn’t coalesce into something organized at scale until the latter part of the 20th century.

Episcopal High School Coach Charlie Platt. Photo credit: Episcopal High School

The 1973 Episcopal Rowing Team doing a water launch near Downtown Jacksonville. Photo credit: Episcopal High School

1986-1987

In mid-1986, the predecessor organization of the JRC was created by a group including Pete Keegan, Brad, Kristen, & Bob Negaard, Mark & Jackie Beckenbach, Gail Ferguson, Brett Williams, and Bob Mustafa. This club was called the St. Johns Few.

In 1987, the St. Johns Few successfully put on the Sunshine State Games out of the Jacksonville University (JU) boathouse, but sometime shortly after that, the St. Johns Few disbanded.

1987: Establishment of Jacksonville Rowing Club

In the late 1987, the St. Johns Few was reorganized as the Jacksonville Rowing Club, Inc.

The club operated out of JU from a lean-to built onto the side of the JU boathouse. Dues and any other income were deposited into an account at JU and expenses paid by JU on behalf of JRC. In September of 1988, Roy Fuller joined the club and took over Treasurer duties, opening the club’s first bank account and taking over the accounting functions from JU. The JRC began to stand on its own.

1988: Building the First Fleet

Somewhere around late 1988, the club purchased its original boats from Bob Negaard. The club’s flotilla consisted of two Wing-It singles, one Seashell, one Boston, one Smallcraft, one double Smallcraft, and one Laser — for the most part, all recreational boats.

1989: Relocating to Pottsburg Creek

Due to the water conditions on the St. Johns, in early 1989, Pete Keegan and Mark Beckenbach approached Episcopal High School and — with the help of Kurt Logan, State Representative Jim Tullis, and Garnett Ashby — JRC petitioned Episcopal with the idea of building a boathouse on their property on Pottsburg Creek. In mid-1989, JRC moved to the Episcopal High School property. Almost immediately after JRC left the JU property, the lean-to was taken over and expanded by the new Stanton Rowing Program, formed by Steve Hitchcock.

1990: Official Incorporation

JRC was officially recorded as a corporation in the State of Florida on July 3, 1990. At that time, its first official Board and officers were elected.

Early JRC oar design with blue club colors

The new JRC boathouse on the DCF property. (2002) Photo credit: JRC

The DCF site has been a blessing to JRC — though in the early days, there was no way to get boats to the water without wading thru knee-deep muck. Once again, ingenuity and elbow grease to the rescue! Dr. Sanchez-Salazar found a partner in his neighbor, Mr. Peter House, to help us design and build a pier and dock. After several weekends of work; pilings, decks, docks, ramps, anchors – finally the “dock Salazar” was in place!

After a bit of equipment/inventory clean up, the JRC flotilla continued to improve. Two used eights were donated by a local school, another eight was donated by a number of youth parents led by Nancy and Chip Lilly, and a four was donated by a youth parent, Dr. Gene Bebeau.

In addition, JRC purchased a number of singles, doubles, and a four. Finally, the youth and masters working together fundraised to buy a brand new trailer that allowed our teams to bring shells to race sites.

2010–Present

Over the years JRC has become Northeast Florida’s true community rowing club. Our members transit to practice from places as far south as Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, and Palatka; from Kings Bay, Georgia in the north; the coastal communities of Atlantic, Neptune, Jacksonville, and Ponte Vedra Beaches; and from numerous inland locations all across Northeast Florida. The JRC Board has also integrated representatives from all the scholastic and collegiate rowing programs in the area since its inception, making it a central figure in the local rowing scene. JRC is also very well-connected within the national rowing community.

Since our founding, we have developed learn-to-row programs for youth and adults, judge/referee development programs, coxswain clinics, and a competitive masters program; conceived (and initially ran) the First Coast Head Race; produced the Trout River Rowing Festival; and organized a small community youth rowing program, though that was disbanded in 2018.

Today, the JRC provides sculling and sweep rowing for novice and experienced, recreational and competitive adults. No matter what your rowing experience or interests, there is something for you at JRC!

Club Presidents

Since our inception, the Presidents of the Club have been: