About Orlando Rowing Club

Who We Are

ORC offers both competitive and recreational programs, including:

• Learn to Row programs

• Competitive and recreational adult rowing

• Sculling

• Dragon boating

• Team-building and community events

Whether you row or paddle for fitness, camaraderie, or competition, ORC has an open seat for you.

ORC is an organizational member of USRowing, the national governing body of the sport, and a charter member of the Florida Masters Rowing Association. Our members compete in more than 10 USRowing-sanctioned regattas each year and have earned national, regional, and international recognition.

Competitive Excellence

Over the years, ORC athletes have achieved notable success, including:

• Multiple medals at USRowing Masters Nationals

• Gold medals at Head of the Hooch

• Medals at World Rowing Masters (FISA)

• Top-10 finishes and podium appearances at Head of the Charles Regatta, including a 2025 Bronze in the Women’s Veteran 4+

These accomplishments reflect the club’s commitment to athlete development, teamwork, and high-performance masters rowing.

Our History

1968–1987: The Foundation

ORC was founded in 1968 as the Florida Athletic Club (FAC), laying the groundwork for organized rowing in Central Florida. The rowing program officially launched in 1972 at Lake Fairview and included athletes from Winter Park High School, Edgewater High School, and Florida Tech (now UCF).

FAC athletes earned medals at prestigious events including the Olympic Sports Festival, Canadian Henley Regatta, Miami International Regatta, and the Head of the Charles, along with international competition in Mexico and England and representation at Olympic Trials.

As interest in adult rowing grew, the organization evolved. In 1987, the club incorporated as Orlando Rowing Club, Inc., reflecting its expanding masters rowing community.

1994–1996: A Permanent Home on Lake Fairview

A pivotal moment came in 1994, when ORC entered into an interlocal agreement with the City of Orlando and Orange County. Through the vision and leadership of City Councilman Jeff Clark and the generosity of Philadelphia rower and builder Ken Corkery, plans for a permanent boathouse at Lake Fairview became reality.

Members and supporters contributed significant “sweat equity” to bring the project to life. The three-bay boathouse was completed and dedicated in 1996.

It was named in memory of Charles Kenneth Corkery — a beloved competitor, coach, Temple University alumnus, and national referee for USRowing — who passed away just before the building’s completion. Today, the boathouse stands as a lasting tribute to his passion for the sport and his commitment to community rowing.

1996–Present: Growth and Community

From 1996 to 2001, ORC sponsored regattas for middle school, high school, collegiate, masters, and open-age rowers while expanding summer rowing programs for novices and high school athletes.

As high school rowing matured statewide, ORC refocused in 2001 exclusively on masters-level (adult) rowing, aligning competition and programming more closely with its mission.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, ORC continued to grow its competitive presence while expanding access to rowing for the broader community.

Dragon Boating & Community Impact

In 2010, Andrea Eliscu introduced dragon boating to Orlando as a breast cancer fundraising initiative for the Orlando Health Foundation. Philanthropist Harriett Lake donated the city’s first dragon boat in honor of her daughter, a breast cancer survivor.

In 2011, dragon boating officially became part of ORC with the formation of the Orlando Dragon Boat Club (DBC). Today, multiple teams thrive under this program, including Charge, Warriors on Water, REACH, and ScORCH.

That same year, Dueling Dragons launched — a mentoring program uniting Orlando police officers and local youth through dragon boating. Fully donor-supported, Dueling Dragons strengthens trust, builds leadership, and deepens ORC’s partnership with the City of Orlando.

Today & Looking Forward

Today, ORC remains a volunteer-led nonprofit serving athletes of all experience levels. The club continues to offer:

• Learn to row programs

• Recreational and competitive rowing

• Sculling

• Dragon boating

• Community and corporate team-building events

For 30 years at our Lake Fairview home, ORC has been more than a rowing club. It has been a place where individuals discover their strength, teams find their rhythm, and community is built — one stroke at a time.

Thank you for being part of the journey.