I’m Kayla. I love water, wind, and a good start horn. I’ve raced a bunch of boat types over the years, sometimes for fun, sometimes for that tiny medal that feels way bigger than it looks. I’ll keep it simple. Real races, real gear, real sweat. Some wins. Some swims. You know what? That’s the good part.
Below are the five styles I’ve actually raced, with what felt great and what didn’t. If you’re boat-curious, this might help.
I also put together a longer write-up that dives into every heat, blister, and capsize—here’s that candid recap if you’d like to bookmark it.
Rowing (Crew): Long Pulls, Loud Cox, Big Grins
I rowed 2-seat in a women’s eight at Head of the Hooch down in Chattanooga. Cold morning. Flat water. We launched late and I tied my shoe in the boat—don’t do that. We passed two crews, got passed by one, and our cox called a “power 10” so hard my legs buzzed.
I’ve also done a 2,000-meter sprint at Green Lake in Seattle. That one hurt in that good, spicy way. The stroke rate was high, the catch had to be clean, and my hands tore just a bit under the tape. I still have that blister line. Weird badge, but I keep it.
What I love:
- The rhythm. Catch, drive, finish, feather. It’s like a heartbeat.
- The team lock-in. When the boat sets, it sings. You feel speed as balance.
- Head races feel like a chess race. Sprints feel like a drag race.
What bugged me:
- Early mornings. So many early mornings.
- If the set is off, you fight the wobble. It messes with your head.
- One bad crab and you’re famous for a week.
My score: 4.5/5. When it clicks, it’s magic.
Dragon Boat: Pure Timing, Pure Party
I raced with a mixed crew at the Portland Dragon Boat Festival. Twenty paddlers, one drummer, one steer. We lined up by the Hawthorne Bridge with teams in bright jerseys and crazy good snacks. Our drummer kept the beat like a metronome on fire, and my lats felt it by the second heat.
It’s short. It’s loud. It’s oddly calm inside the pain, because the timing rules all. When the boat ran clean, it felt like skating on warm glass.
What I love:
- That drum. It locks your cadence and your brain.
- Fast heats, quick resets. You get lots of reps.
- Team spirit is off the charts. You cheer for rivals. And they cheer back.
What bugged me:
- If timing slips even a hair, the bow buries and the speed drops.
- Hot days fry you between heats. Shade is gold.
- The blade angle needs to be exact. Sloppy entry? You feel it.
My score: 4/5. Big fun. Big team vibe. Great for all levels.
Dinghy Sailing (Laser/ILCA): Small Boat, Big Burn
I raced a Laser at the Sail Sand Point Turkey Bowl in Seattle. Cold wind. Short courses. I swam twice, which made the hot cocoa after taste like a trophy. Lasers teach you fast. Hike hard. Sheet in smooth. Vang on when it puffs. Eyes on telltales, not your ego.
Starts were tight, and laylines felt cruel when I guessed wrong. I learned to love a clean tack. I also learned my thighs can scream.
What I love:
- Simple boat, so it’s all you. Skill shows. So does panic.
- Capsizes happen, but the righting drill is weirdly fun.
- Great fleet culture. Folks share tips on the ramp.
What bugged me:
- Cold hands. Numb fingers make knots a joke.
- Mistakes cost a lot on short legs.
- If your hiking strap fails, you’re in the drink.
My score: 4.5/5. Pure sailing. No hiding.
Keelboat Racing (J/24 and Beer Can Nights): Crew Work Wins
I trim on a J/24 for Wednesday night beer can races on Lake Union. Tight legs, bridge shadows, and that one puff that always pops near Gas Works. I’ve also done Round the County up in the San Juans. That one gave me a night watch with a headlamp, a thermos, and a sky full of stars. Different beasts, both good.
On keelboats, roles matter. Bow calls distance, trimmer feels the groove, driver keeps the lane, and the main works the traveler like a DJ. When the groove is right, the boat hums. When it isn’t, we talk it out and get back in phase.
What I love:
- Jobs are clear. You can master your slice.
- Tactical calls feel like puzzles. Wind lines, shifts, traffic.
- After-race docks. Story time and dock tacos.
What bugged me:
- Gear breaks. Spin sheets knot at the worst time.
- Protests can get spicy. Rules matter, and so does tone.
- Long waits at marks if the wind dies. Patience game.
My score: 4/5. Team chess on water.
Paddle Races (SUP and Surfski): You vs. You… and the Chop
I raced Round the Rock on a 14-foot SUP around Mercer Island. Long course. Long day. I brought too little water once, and never again. The start felt calm, then the ferries and wind built this mean little cross-chop. I learned a staggered stance and a soft grip save your legs.
On a surfski, I did the Gorge Downwind Champs in Hood River. That one is pure joy when the bumps line up. Catch a wave, link to the next, and your boat surfs like a fast seal. Miss the line and you pay in gasping breaths. Fair deal.
What I love:
- Clear progress. Stroke better, go faster. No mystery.
- Downwind days feel like a video game with real spray.
- Simple kit. Boat, paddle, PFD, leash. Go.
What bugged me:
- Remount practice is a must. Swimming happens.
- Bumpy crosswinds test your core and your mood.
- Nutrition planning matters. Bonk once, and you learn.
My score: 4.5/5. Honest work, honest speed.
So… Which One Fits You?
- Love teamwork and a steady rhythm? Rowing or dragon boat. You’ll feel part of a machine, in a good way.
- Want small-boat skill and a grin after a swim? Try a Laser day.
- Crave tactics and crew roles? Keelboats scratch that itch.
- Want a simple setup and a big engine day? Go paddle—SUP or surfski—then sleep like a rock.
- If all-out horsepower is your flavor, watch the twin-hull rockets at XCAT Racing and see what offshore powerboats can really do. And for a totally different, salty dose of throttle-up tradition, take a peek at what a lobster boat race in Maine feels like; it’s part festival, part full-throttle showdown.
Here’s the thing: I thought I wanted quiet. I ended up loving the noise—of wind in the rigging, of a cox calling rate, of a drummer yelling “Up! Up!” Funny, right? But it makes sense. The water talks back. And when it does, you listen.
If you’re near Seattle, look for:
- Head of the Lake (rowing) at UW’s Montlake Cut
- Sail Sand Point frostbite events (dinghy)
- Lake Union Wednesday nights (keelboats)
- Round the Rock (SUP)
- And if you can travel a bit, the Portland Dragon Boat Festival or the Gorge Downwind Champs
Travel tip: if you ever find yourself in northern France, the Deûle canal in Lille hosts casual paddle sprints and low-key regattas all summer long. To line up post-race meet-ups with locals who are equally stoked on life by the water, check out this handy social guide ➜ PlanCul Lille—it rounds up the best waterfront hangouts and after-paddle gatherings so you can swap race stories over a cold drink the moment you hit the quay.
After any of these race days, your muscles can feel like overcooked rigging lines. If you ever find yourself cooling down near Memphis or the suburb of Bartlett, Tennessee, and need professional hands to unknot your back, check out this no-nonsense directory of massage spots in Bartlett—it’s packed with first-hand reviews and locations, so you can pick a place that actually gets athletes’ aches and bounce back before the next horn.
Try one. Or two. You might hate the cold. You might love the rush. I did both. And I keep going back.