Most Competitive Boathouse

Lake Merritt Rowing Club, Oakland, California

While better known for its baseball and football teams, Oakland, California has a gem of a rowing team located in the heart of the industrial city. On Lake Merritt, the Lake Merritt Rowing Club has been practicing and racing since 1961. The club was founded after the defeat of the Americans to West Germany's Olympic Rowing Team in the 1960 Rome Olympics for two purposes: 1. to provide a recreational activity targeted at a younger demographic, and 2. to scout those who have the potential to be Olympic rowers. Lake Merritt has undoubtedly accomplished both goals, with five Olympic rowers coming out of the competitive program at Lake Merritt.

The Masters Team competes in many national and regional regattas, including the Head of the Charles. Those twenty-one and over may either casually row or choose to compete in the regattas, though the focus is always on camaraderie and sportsmanship while perfecting rowing technique. The San Francisco Bay Blades, a LGBT rowing organization part of Lake Merritt, offers both competitive and recreational opportunities for rowers. With so many options available to those in the Bay Area, it is no wonder that Lake Merritt Rowing Club is such a successful organization.