Masters National Championships Returns as a Dedicated Four-Day Event

• 2027 USRowing Masters National Championships will take place July 15-18 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• USRowing will discontinue the dedicated Youth, U17, U23, and Open portions of the summer National Championships competition and transition away from "RowFest National Championships."

Beginning in 2027, USRowing will return to a dedicated Masters National Championships, transitioning away from the eight-day USRowing RowFest National Championships format that has in recent years served Youth, U17, U23, Open, and Masters athletes. The USRowing Masters National Championships will be a four-day national championship focused on Masters racing. The dedicated Youth, U17, U23, and Open portions of the competition will be discontinued. 

“This change reflects the consistent feedback USRowing has heard in recent years from athletes, coaches, and clubs at these National Championships,” said Sarah McAuliffe, Chief Program Officer at USRowing. “We greatly appreciate the many, many rowing community members who have participated and supported this long-running event in every variation it’s had. In the last 10-15 years we’ve tested and tried multiple competition and racing formats in an effort to support all stakeholder needs, and in turn we created versions of the event that haven’t left participants completely satisfied with their racing experience.”

Under the 2026 USRowing Rules of Rowing, Masters competition begins at age 21. U23 and Open athletes who are age 21 or older therefore remain eligible to compete in applicable Masters categories.

McAuliffe added, “The discontinuation of the dedicated Youth, U17, Open and U23 portions of RowFest National Championships wasn’t a decision made lightly. We pride ourselves on offering best-in-class experiences for our participants and can now do that for our Masters athletes – including those in the U23 category – with a dedicated national championship. Dually, we also intend for the younger athletes to have a better experience, and opportunity to develop through competitive racing that’s local to their club.”

With the return to a Masters-focused championship, the event will once again be called the USRowing Masters National Championships.

The 2027 USRowing Masters National Championships will take place July 15-18 in Indianapolis, Indiana. USRowing will announce the date and location for the 2028 event in late 2027.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the 2027 or 2028 USRowing domestic regatta schedule, please direct them to Competition@USRowing.org.