What better way to learn the tricks of the ocean rowing trade than with an experienced ocean rower?
We are delighted to be collaborating with Dawn Wood to offer a variety of training courses required to row across an ocean.
Dawn's background:
Dawn has worked commercially at sea for the past 16 years in maritime policing. During that time she has gained a wealth of experience and qualifications and is now a commercially endorsed yacht master and yacht master instructor. She has been involved in the ocean rowing industry for the past 5 years, helping to train crews both in the UK and overseas with Rannoch Adventure.
Dawn soon realised she could no longer continue to teach without doing the row herself, so at the beginning of 2018 she rowed solo and unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean to raise awareness about plastics pollution in our oceans.
Dawn got into gig rowing in 2014 when she joined Burnham on Crouch Coastal rowing club where she was the chairman for many years. She continues to support the rowing club by delivering training. She is a qualified British rowing session coach as well as being an instructor for many RYA courses.
In 2018 Dawn set up ‘Aurora Sea School’ with the aim of running essential RYA courses for ocean rowers. ‘Aurora Sea School’ is the only school running RYA training by ocean rowers for ocean rowers. These courses include, but are not limited to, Marine Radio, First Aid, Navigation and Sea Survival.
Dawn lives on our doorstep in Burnham-on-Crouch and in 2018, she rowed across the Atlantic solo as "Row Aurora". As a result, she is perfectly placed to understand what it takes to succeed in these challenges and has been working with us for several years to train several of our crews.
One project she worked with us on was the China Expedition,choosing and training the team for #TWAC2017. The team, Kung Fu Cha Cha then went on to win the female class and break the world record!
Dawn offers a 6 Day Training Programme which includes:
- RYA First Aid Certificate
- RYA Sea Survival
- VHF SRC Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate
- RYA Essential Navigation
All of these courses will set anyone up for an ocean row.
Among the teams Dawn has recently worked with are Force Atlantic,Wave Warrior, Solo Atlantic Row, Atlantic Solo and Mad Giraffe Atlantic Row.
So now, not only can you come to Burnham-on-Crouch to buy your boat, do your rowing training, organise your shipping and buy your kit, you can now complete all your essential courses here too!
For enquiries, please email dawn@rowaurora.co.uk or go to her Facebook Page.