Chennai | This summer break, try your hand at rowing

Experience the serene world of rowing in Chennai with the Madras Boat Club and Sri Ramachandra Water Sports Centre.

At 6am, when much of Chennai experiences its last few REM cycles, a handful of rowers at the Madras Boat Club (MBC) can be seen dragging their boats out of the dock and entering the Adyar river. In twos, fours, eights and sometimes the rare single scull, they splice through the ripples of the once-sedate waterbody with a gentle ease and unwavering focus. Everything is quiet except for the bird calls and the rippling water underneath. The only interruptions are the occasional instructions to steer the boat right; and the consistent thump of moving oars.

“When the boat cuts through the water, there is a beautiful, distinct sound. During such moments, when everyone is in sync and in the zone, it feels like we could all row forever — all the way to the mouth of the river near Broken Bridge. It is poetry in motion,” says Sumana Narayanan.

Chennai often experiences a paradox. It is home to several ponds, lakes, rivers and the endless sea. However, only a handful experience the world of water sports. Sumana, the vice captain of boats at the MBC, says that once someone is bitten by the rowing bug, it becomes hard to let go. “Senior members of the club, at 80, still come out every morning and take the boat for a spin between the Kotturpuram bridge and the Mandaveli railway overpass (about one kilometre). It keeps their fitness in check,” she says.

Sumana who works at a non-profit organisation, comes from a legacy of female rowers in her family. On the walls of the 156-year-old club where she rows, one can see pictures of her mother and aunts, standing next to rowing boats and trophies.

Her senior, MR Ravindra, advocate and captain of boats at the MBC also features prominently in rowing gear from four decades ago, on the walls at the entrance. He is no stranger to the Adyar and says that taking an interest in helping the sport grow has made a world of difference to his day-to-day life. “Rowing has a lot to do with the mind and requires as much work on the ground, as it does in water. It is said that rowers tend to have the strength of a weight lifter and the stamina of a marathoner. It isn’t easy to propel a boat, you know,” he says.

Rowing is a great way to unwind and centre oneself, says Sumana. It is probably why the two rowing institutions in Chennai — the MBC and the Sri Ramachandra Water Sports Centre — are focussing their efforts on enlisting young members to take part in the sport. Although swimming is a prerequisite for learning the sport, Ravindra says that determination and focus are more than sufficient to ensure that those who learn reach great heights.

The sport is after all, accessible only to few in different parts of India due to geography and the existence of few rowing clubs. Even doing reasonably well allows participants to shine, representing the country in several international competitions including a shot at the Olympics.