Our Story

Our story begins in 2010 when a group of local Central Florida rowers living in Clermont met a group of people who wanted to make a difference in our community. At the time, these passionate rowers were making weekly practices work from the back yard of a friend-of-a-friend. Lack of facilities and limited equipment did not stop them from sharing their passion for the sport.


As a class project, the Leadership Lake County Class of 2010 picked “economic development.” Understanding the importance of our lakes to our environment and community, and somewhat influenced by a certain alumni who was a rower in college, the Leadership Lake County classmates decided to form the Lake County Rowing Association for the purpose of promoting rowing in Lake County while also encouraging people from across the Nation to visit our beautiful lakes and waterways.


Since 2011, when Lake County Rowing Association was born, the club has grown from 30 members to almost 120. In 2015, the City of Clermont and Lake County, Florida demonstrated their commitment to growing the sport of rowing our waterways when the City built the Clermont Boathouse.

We’ve hosted several “friendly” regattas, as well as the annual Leader of the Lake, and been the temporary home to multiple National Rowing Teams. In 2018, we started the Clermont Cardboard Classic, a true FUNdraiser for our club. With new docks built in 2019 and a $30 million renovation of Victory Pointe in downtown Clermont, there is no event too big – or too small – for Lake County Rowing to support.

Watching people – young and old -fall in love with playing on the water is a passion of ours. We hope you will share in this passion with us.

Founding Members

Wendy Burkett
Karen Door
Debbie Keily
Paul McPherson
Alison Strange
Alison Strange