History of Rowing in the Table Bay
The History of Rowing dates back to the year 1861...

and not only is it the amongst the oldest of our organised South African Sports, but there are in existence to-day two historical and honored clubs than which it would be difficult to find any older in any part of this sub-continent. The Civil Service Rowing Club dates back to 1861 which is today the Civil Service Club, no longer rowing, and the Alfred's Rowing Club to the year 1864. Alfred's Rowing Club still continues to participate in Rowing with out a break or intermission since 1864.                                    The Championship regatta which was raced every year in the Table bay received a record number of competitors in 1867 for Championship honours, there being no fewer than seven starters. Incidentally in this year there was contention on the question of amateur status of several of the members if the new contesting crews. As a result it was wisely decided that the rules governing the contest should be adhered to, the captain of the Alfreds - Mr Charles Lewis - declaring " amid loud cheering , that he was perfectly prepared to pull against the new clubs, provided the rules were carried out." Ultimately it was resolved that " persons whose work does not consist in pulling an oar should be regarded as amateurs," and as a result the difficulty was overcome. This regatta took place on May 24th 1867, over a course of 4 1/4 miles which was covered in 38 minutes 15 seconds by the Alfreds crew.In 1868 as a result of agitation from without and within, the Regatta Committee during this year drew up and published, a definite constitution, embodied in a set of rules, which were communicated to the press and published in the Cape Argus of May 28th.In 1895 This year was specially noteworthy it witnessed the first foreign competitor for the Championship of Table Bay, this was brought about by the efforts of the Captain at the Alfreds Rowing Club, which had obtained promises from the Leander Rowing Club of East London that they would make the journey to Cape Town. The Leanders where not successful in their visit to Table Bay.1900 The revival of the Table Bay regattas revives a pleasant chapter in the social hitory of the city during the past forty years. Of the great national sports and pastimes, rowing was one of the first to establish itself as a popoular local favorite. The public interest in the old time regatta was practically universal. It was the great open air festival of the Cape year. THe shore, the Wharves, the quays were thronged with spectators of every colour and class. In 1907. The Boating Association changed their style and title from "The Boating Association of Table Bay,"as it had been since 1883. to the "Western Province Amateur Rowing Association," In 2005 the" Western Cape Rowing Association" was formed incorporating the "Western Province Amateur Rowing Association,"