Tampa has been a popular winter and early spring training site for rowing teams from the north for decades for the mild weather, great water and convenience of lodging within a few minutes of walking (even shorter when you run).  The Stewards Foundation has enhanced the value offered to visiting teams though the 3 docks capable of supporting 6 eights at once and plentiful space for trailers, shells and equipment.

We doubt that there is better water for training than ours.  It is virtually impossible for our river to become unrowable due to wind unless the winds are from a hurricane.  We have thoughtfully scheduled hurricane season to be the summer and fall when northern teams stay at home.  The river has 11 miles of water that is rowable and the river connects to Tampa Bay via sheltered and generally quiet shipping channels.  This provides an almost unlimited amount of water for training.

In February, 2012 Princeton University Rowing visited and rowed from the Stewards Foundation. Click here  to view a great video of what it is like to train in Tampa in mid winter.  And if you enjoyed that video click here for part 2!

The biggest and best reason you should train here is our secret weapon and your best friend in Tampa.  That is Denny Antram who will do everything possible to make certain that your teams have the very best opportunities to get great water time and everything you need to have the best possible benefit of our great climate, water and facilities.

We are minutes from the Tampa International Airport which offers frequent flights to the rest of the country and the airfares tend to be lower than most airports.

We are in downtown Tampa which has a wide variety of hotels within walking distance of the boathouse.  The closest and least costly hotel is the Howard Johnson Plaza Tampa Downtown Hotel which is immediately across the river and short jog to the boathouse.  We have arranged special rates as well.