Rowers will take to the Androscoggin River on Saturday in Brunswick to compete in the 2014 Cow Island Classic. Competitors in several divisions and classifications will launch from the Water Street ramp in Brunswick. Between 30 and 40 craft with crews of one to four rowers will compete in the regatta, said Merrymeeting Community Rowing Association President Scott Bailey.

“It’s one of the largest-attended — if not the largest-attended — regattas in the state of Maine,” said Bailey.

“We’ll have a lot of guests in from Portland, Yarmouth, all over,” said Program Director Anna Jordan.

The five-kilometer race is great for spectators who want to watch from the bike path in Brunswick, said Jordan.

The classic is organized by the Maine Rowing Association and is hosted by Merrymeeting Community Rowing, which is looking at expanding membership.

MCRA is not just for seasoned veterans of rowing, said Jordan.

“We have people who have never held an oar in their life participate in our Learn To Row classes,” she said. 

The association is also trying to open membership up to junior members, age 14-18, and are contacting local high schools to see if there is interest in starting rowing clubs. “We’d be really excited to get some high school kids out on the river,” said Jordan. “It’s a lifelong sport, and we really want to start them young.”

“One of the things that makes it so great for people, as a lifelong sport, is that it’s non-impact, and people can do this for a long time,” said Jordan. “It works all muscle groups in the body. There’s a beauty about it, a rhythm about it.”

Rowing is also a great way to experience nature in the skies, on the bank, and in the waters of the Androscoggin, according to Bailey and Jordan.

“That’s one of the greatest things about rowing here,” said Bailey. “We have one of the best rivers in Maine for rowing — right here.”

MCRA is still raising funds in order to build a dock at the Water Street boat launch.

The proposed dock consists of two sections: a 60- foot standard dock that would run perpendicular from the shore into the river on the downstream side of the ramp, and a 44-foot lowfreeboard dock that would run parallel to the river flow, attached to the end of the first section. The configuration would allow the simultaneous launching of craft such as canoes, kayaks, rowing shells, and paddle boards alongside motorized craft.

The cost of the project is $165,000, with up to $70,000 reimbursed by the state under the boating facilities fund and an additional $70,000 paid by the town.

The association is closing the gap on its $25,000 fundraising goal, with more than $21,000 raised so far, according to Bailey.

Construction may begin as soon as the end of September, and the dock may be in place for use by the end of October.

Go to www.rowbrunswick.org or www.Facebook.com/MCRArowing for more information.