About Pettipaug Scullers

Pettipaug Scullers of Essex is home to a varied clan of masters who own single and double sculls. Our mission is to promote the lifelong love of sculling through continual improvement and enjoyment on our tidal waterway. Whether one sculls for pleasure or competition, we provide encouragement, camaraderie, and coaching as integral to fulfilling our mission. We also reciprocate with other sculling clubs by holding group rows at our respective venues. Experienced junior scullers are also welcomed.

A Unique Place for Scullers

Just north of town of Essex, our special stretch of the lower Connecticut River exudes nature’s beauty. We are blessed every day by frequent sightings of ospreys fishing, bald eagles soaring, deer drinking by the shore, and beaver swimming. Striped bass often surprise us with their leaps and splashes. Heading 2k upstream from the Pettipaug Yacht Club (PYC), we have the option of continuing along the shore or entering the protection of the quiet creek at Selden Neck State Park. After 3.5k we pop out onto the river again and continue another 1.5k to the ferry landing at Gillette Castle State Park. On more adventurous days, we may continue another 5k past islands and coves to the Haddam Bridge at Eagles Landing State Park and at the Goodspeed Opera House. We normally head upriver, but occasionally groups explore the 9.5k stretch south to the mouth of the river at Long Island Sound.

Membership

Pettipaug Scullers operates within the Pettipaug Yacht Club, a sailboat racing club which also offers a well-known youth summer sailing academy. Therefore, all members of Pettipaug Scullers also need to be members of Pettipaug Yacht Club, and we will assist you in that process. We have use of the clubhouse restrooms, lockers, and meeting room. All members own their own shells, which are stored on outdoor racks. In 2025 we are building a storage locker just for our oars (sculls). Those interested in becoming members should contact a member of the Pettipaug Rowing Board, or email rowing@pettipaug.org

Guests:
Experienced rowers are welcome as guests at Pettipaug but must be accompanied by a club member (USRowing waiver required). For additional information, please contact us at rowing@pettipaug.org

Fees:
• Pettipaug Yacht Club Annual Membership Fees: $218 ( includes: all dues, fees, taxes)
• Pettipaug Yacht Club Initiation (1st year only): $100

Returning Members:
• Payment for the upcoming season is due April 1st.
• All members will need to sign the US Rowing standard waiver. Please download and sign; completed waivers will be collected at the PYC Boathouse.

New Member Training

We only require that anyone interested in heading onto the Connecticut River in shells be experienced. This is because of the river’s brisk speed (2.3 mph), its varying depths (from 100 ft to shallow sandbars), and its changing tidal conditions that create whirling eddies. Therefore, we require novices to attend a sculling camp.
• Our sister club, Blood Street Sculls at nearby Rogers Lake in Old Lyme, runs an introductory “Learn to Row Day” in early June, which is followed by a two-week program. See: www.oldlymerowing.org
• One of the best sculling camps in the country is the renowned Craftsbury Sculling Center in Craftsbury, Vermont. Scullers of all levels, from novice to elite, enjoy either weekend programs or full weeks: www.craftsbury.com/sculling


In addition, shells can be rented at a reasonable cost from Wintech and other shell manufacturers.

Member Coaching

Coaching is provided by some of our veteran Pettipaug Scullers with past coaching experience.