Learn to row at Open Water Rowing Center

It’s summer—time to head out to the water! What? No boat? No problem. Sausalito’s Open Water Rowing Center has its club members covered. It’s not a crew team, but rather a rowers club where members can take advantage of coaching, classes, clinics and equipment, including ergs—rowing machines—and, of course, boats.

First, members need to be certified by an OWRC instructor, but that can take as little as an hour depending on rowing experience. And speaking of experience, none is needed to begin rowing at the OWRC. That’s right, it’s one of the things that makes this place the best.

Anyone who has a desire to learn to row can safely and enjoyably learn the ropes of rowing here. The Bay Rower and Fundamentals Clinic will get the rowing-curious started, even if they don’t have any previous experience.

Once members are certified, they can use the rowers “playground” located near the OWRC dock or take a club boat onto the San Francisco Bay.

To stay in shape, ergs are complimentary for club members to use during open hours. The ergs have been known to roll out onto the dock for a gorgeous bay view during workouts.

Other perks include access to classes—brush-up clinics for those who rowed back in college, classes for brand-new rowers or even technique courses, where rowers can learn must-have skills like sculling, rough water and self-rescue.

And to round out the day, afterwards, patrons can have a bite, brunch or some oysters and a glass of wine at the end of the dock at Le Garage, a French bistro housed in a converted auto shop.

Make some waves. The water awaits.

Open Water Rowing Center is located at 85 Liberty Ship Way #102 in Sausalito. It is open 6:30am to noon, Mon-Fri, and 7:30am to 1pm, Sat and Sun. owrc.com.

Pickleball at the Cañon Club

Spoiler alert: Pickleball will be mentioned in this write-up. Those who have played it know what good times await, regardless of whether they are absolute beginners or wannabe pros. And they also know what a pain it is to find a court.

Sure, there are some amazing public courts dotted throughout Marin, but then there are the few private clubs that have created makeshift ones out of some of their—gasp!—tennis courts. For the real deal—that is, playing on officially-sanctioned pickleball courts—nothing beats the Cañon Club.

Located in a hidden valley just one mile west of downtown Fairfax, the club—which offers an outdoor pool and tennis courts in addition to pickleball—is surrounded by open-space hills where wildflowers bloom and deer and wild turkeys roam all year.

Yes, one must be a member, or know someone who is, to use the courts. But one work-around is to sign up for one of their many clinics, which are fairly reasonably priced by Marin standards and an easy way to learn how to “stay out of the kitchen” in no time. —NN