We have had excursions up the Orwell and been very warmly welcomed by the Orwell Yacht Club, where we left a gig for a week, allowing us to row to Ipswich and along the Nacton shore.

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We have also re-visited Orford and enjoyed excursions on the river Ore / Alde from an Orford base.
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A gig has been entered in the Great River Race.

The club fees for FXRC will be £12 per month.

As a "not for profit" members club, we aim to have enough funds to deal with most rainy day scenarios and to cover all usual expenditure (insurance, mooring fees etc) for the next year.

All FXRC rowing members must also join the Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club (FFSC) whose fees are separate. This is mandatory (please see Membership – Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club).  As well as having access to excellent facilities and free parking, membership of the sailing club means we also contribute to the upkeep of the sea wall.

More members have taken up the ‘Sons and Daughters of the Deben’ challenge, rowing the 21.5 miles up the Deben from Felixstowe Ferry to the Iron Bridge and back.

Highlight of the year was rowing one of our gigs to Orford Sailing Club, who kindly let us use their club as a base for a week, enabling us to explore (and swim in) Butley Creek, around Havergate Island, and row to Snape Maltings - which was FXRC’s longest day trip so far.

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As FXRC continues to mature and attract new members to its base at Felixstowe Ferry and the wonderful clubhouse at the sailing club, our 2 gigs, St Felix & St Ethelreda, have been very busy during 2023.

Demand for extra sessions grew quickly once we launched our latest gig, Ethel, in the summer of 2022 as well as new calls for longer "endurance" rows. We are so grateful to 3PL who sponsor Ethel and to A & S Recruitment who sponsor St Felix. Without their help we would not be a 2 gig club. Thanks guys!

In addition to new sessions, the club have been rowing in the River Orwell and many members have taken up the Deben challenge.

There is room for new members so why not give it a go? Yes, it may not seem so inviting at the start if the year but actually cold, still days out on the river can be just the tonic to tackle any winter blues.

Unfit? - who cares! You'll soon get the hang of it and be looking forward to your next session.

Too old? - no......you surely can't be!...our sprightly 79 year old President will soon prove to you that gig rowing is for all ages (except that we can't currently take under 18's). Our club currently has 55 members with members aged in their 20's through to 70+

Kit & Kaboodle - loose, comfortable warm clothing with layers rather than bulk is what you need. We supply buoyancy aids for new trialists so don't worry about that. Woolly hat and cycling gloves or similar are good things to bring with you to start with (although not necessarily needed). Footwear is trainers or similar. Advice is freely available from members where to get the "better stuff" including FXRC branded gear but it is not a fashion parade so don't worry about any of that to start with. Have a look at https://www.fxrc.stitchprint.co.uk to get an idea of our colours etc.

If you don't wish to row but would like to be in charge then great, we are in great need of coxwains (full training can be given!). You get to steer, boss people about and play spot the seal without any grunting and groaning.

Do you use Facebook? Well we have a Facebook page - check that out! We also have an Instagram page - so please check that out as well.

C'mon down to FXRC!

Congratulations to Jo Barnard who is our first chairperson.

Jo will be at the spearhead of our efforts to provide safe enjoyable coastal and river gig rowing for our growing membership base.

She is supported by her committee and the ever so important 2nd Gig Go Getters Fundraising Group who are busy trying to raise £15,000 for a second gig and all the stuff that goes with it.

2nd gig launched!

St Etheldreda, sponsored by Felixstowe haulage company, 3PL was launched as part of the HM Queen's Jubilee Celebrations on Thursday June 2nd 2022. A dual blessing of both St Felix and St Etheldreda was performed in some style on the slipway by the Rev Andrew Dotchin of St John The Baptist church Felixstowe in bright sunshine.

Our 2nd gig is identical to St Felix which affords some scope for a bit of competition but the main aim is to get more people afloat safely to enjoy rowing the waters of Felixstowe Ferry and beyond.

"Ethel" has allowed allowed FXRC membership to swell to 50 adult members (not bad from a standing start less than 18 months ago) with plenty of scope for every member to have at least one row every week.

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Both gigs are to be officially blessed and launched on Thursday June 2nd at about 11am.

St Felix has been running successfully for over a year now but has never been officially launched.

Mandy Harrold of A & S Recruitment in Felixstowe will be doing the honours for St Felix.

Kevin Lawrenson of 3PL is our sponsor for St Etheldreda.

FXRC are grateful to Mandy and Kevin Lawrenson for their 3 year sponsorships of each gig. This will enable the club to grow and offer more opportunities to local people to row the coastal waters of Felixstowe and in the River Deben.

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Hot news! St Felix is now sponsored by A & S Recruitment giving a massive boost to the fundraising effort to raise money for a second gig.