Camaraderie, Conditioning, Competition
Celebrating 35 Years of Rowing
Help Send our Athletes to Nationals
Help us get our youth athletes to the national stage! VIRC has qualified to compete at Youth Nationals in Sarasota, Florida, and we need your support to get them there. Your donation helps cover travel, lodging, equipment transport, and race fees—ensuring our rowers can focus on doing what they do best: racing hard and representing Vashon with grit and grace. Every dollar makes a difference. Let’s get this crew to Sarasota!
Vashon Island’s Community Rowing Club
Founded in 1990 on one of the most beautiful and serene rowing venues anywhere, the Vashon Island Rowing Club has developed a strong co-ed program for teens as well as introductory, recreational and competitive programs for adults. The Club has consistently attracted excellent coaches and enjoys deep support from the community, a fleet of high-quality shells, a boathouse at Jensen Point on the Burton Peninsula, and an indoor training facility at Sunrise Ridge.
Discover Rowing
You can learn more about rowing by watching a practice, experiencing what it’s like to be in a shell, taking a series of classes, and talking with people who started as novices and have come to love the sport.
Youth Program
We offer year-round coached programs for teenagers. Rowers develop strength, technique and teamwork in a supportive, co-ed atmosphere. Many Juniors participate in other sports during the year.
Adult Program
The VIRC Adult program is a great way to meet people and develop a practice that focuses the mind and builds the body in a beautiful venue. We welcome novice as well as experienced and competitive rowers.
VIRC’s mission is to bring the benefits of rowing to the Vashon-Maury Community.
About Vashon Island Rowing Club
VIRC is a private, non-profit club that offers competitive and recreational rowing for youth and adult members of the Vashon Island community. Our Club is diverse in age, gender and skill levels, offers opportunities to row competitively or recreationally, and connects its members with our marine environment. We are supportive as teammates and enjoy each other’s company, both on and off the water. Our venue is remarkable for its natural beauty and variety of rowing options. We have taught more than 500 people to row and sent dozens of Juniors to college on rowing scholarships.
VIRC History
In 1990, Celia Congdon placed an ad in the Beachcomber looking for other women who were interesting in learning how to row. While there were many rowing clubs in Seattle that offered classes, taking the ferry into the city wasn’t an option for women with young families and jobs. Since they all they lived on an island and had access to water they decided to start their own club.
They pooled their money, reached out for advice from other clubs, and bought a used wooden Pocock 4+. The Vashon Women’s Rowing Club was born.
They kept their boat on slings in Marion Robbins’ back yard, and launched it from her beach on outer Quartermaster Harbor.
The first couple of years included storing their shell in a chicken coop during the winter and a rotation of guest coaches who helped teach the basics. How do you step into the boat, again?
“The pain in your legs is nothing compared to the fire in your heart.”
— Unknown Rower
VIRC Boathouse
SW Harbor Dr. Vashon, WA 98070
Indoor Training Center
Sunrise Ridge
10030 SW 210th St, Vashon, WA 98070
The Toughest 'Fun Ride' in Puget Sound
Passport 2 Pain
Every August/September, Vashon Island transforms into a course for the bold (and slightly bonkers). Passport2Pain—VIRC’s signature fundraiser—draws over 300 cyclists from around the region for a one-of-a-kind challenge: conquer brutal hills, collect passport stamps at 18 themed checkpoints, and enjoy the wild costumes and comic relief along the way.
Riders choose their level of pain—from short and steep to long and punishing. Whichever route they take, they’re met with homemade signs, hilarious volunteers, and legendary support.
Why do we do this to ourselves?
Because it’s fun. And because it funds everything we care about.
Proceeds from P2P support:
Want to ride? Volunteer? Sponsor?
However you show up, we’re glad you’re part of it.
