Skip to main content
IMG_0155.jpeg



Whaling City Rowing

New Bedford, MA

HomeEventsWICKED WHALEBOAT CHALLENGE

Events - Event View

WICKED WHALEBOAT CHALLENGE

warning If you are a member, please log in to access member benefits, if available. close

About this event

ABOUT: 
Leave the boat and trailer at home, all you need is your crew and a sense of adventure (see below). The Wicked Whaleboat Challenge is a race that not only tests the speed of the crew but also tests their skills. We've designed a course that accentuates the maneuverability of whaleboats and also incorporates a variety of skills that will challenge the coordination of the boatsteerer and the crew.

The course is a timed event with each boat staggering their start, so there will only be two boats on the course at any time. 

After the row, enjoy and vote for your favorite chili or chowder for our membership's chowder competition!

The BOATS: 
The Wicked Whaleboat Challenge is restricted to WCR whaleboats only. Our fiberglass replica Beetle whaleboats will be available for any teams that wish to row (if you do not have a certified whaleboat boatsteerer, one will be provided for you). If you wish to train on our boats ahead of the challenge, please contact wickedwhaleboatchallenge@gmail.com to schedule a training row.

 

Advised Skills: 

  • Stern Stroke

  • Port and Starboard turns

  • Man Overboard Drill

  • A sense of FUN!

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
1. With the bow lined up with the Starting buoy, at the horn, the boat will STERN STROKE back until the bowlines up with the #2 YELLOW marker buoy.

2. Once lined up with the #2 YELLOW marker buoy, the boat may revert to a normal pull.

3. Go around the island keeping the small GREEN can and the large GREEN can to your starboard.

4. Make a starboard turn around the WHALE

5. Immediately after making a starboard turn at the #5 YELLOW marker, kick BOB overboard and continue to the #6 YELLOW marker.

6. Make a port turn around the marker. Immediately after the turn, pick the steering oar out of the water and go retrieve BOB. Once BOB is back in the boat, you may use the steering oar again.

7. With BOB back in the boat, row like a bat outta hell down the pier towards the #2 YELLOW marker. Make a sharp port turn between the end of the pier and the #2 YELLOW marker. You've finished!

DIVISIONS:
Sorry. there are no divisions.

AWARDS: 
The awards given will be for 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place and the Drowned Captain award will be given to whichever team leaves BOB (the person-overboard-dummy) in the water for the longest period of time.

Date and Time

Saturday, May 2, 2026, 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada) (UTC-05:00)

Location

Popes Island Marina
102 Popes Island Marina
New Bedford, MA  02740
USA

Additional Info

Mark Hurley(s)

Jenna Ellis
Event Organizer
586-604-2216 (p)


Mark Hurley
Event creator

Category

Wicked Whaleboat Challenge

Registration Info

Registration is required
Payment In Full In Advance Only
RACE ORDER IS DETERMINED BY REGISTRATION ORDER.

ROWERS MAY BE PART OF 2 BOAT CREWS MAXIMUM. NO EXCEPTIONS.

RACE ORDER WILL BE PROVIDED AT CAPTAIN'S MEETING ON RACE DAY.
Registration modifications are permitted until Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM

Number of People Who Will Attend

WWC Team
$210.00
Register Now



Open Rows are open to all! Designed to accommodate rowers who would like to row at different times with mixed crews. If the crew is full, you can sign up to ride as a bow rider or an alternate. Bow riders can come along for the ride or switch in to row, while alternates are backups incase of a call-out.



If you're signed up for a row and can no longer attend, please delete yourself from the row preferably with 24hr notice to give the alternate enough time to prepare.



At a minimum, the boats require a steerer and four rowers to head out, so the crew depends on each other to row!



Pull Together!

Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events