President Domingo Sarmiento’s words still echo here at the Buenos Aires Rowing Club. He praised the club’s inauguration as a new style of fun for Argentina. He spoke of a mens sana in corpore sano. This isn’t just a rowing club. It’s a piece of Argentine history.
The Buenos Aires Rowing Club is more than just a sports club. It’s the oldest rowing club in Argentina. Founded on December 16 1873 it started in Buenos Aires city. British immigrants introduced rowing in the 1870s. Enthusiasts made the journey from Buenos Aires port to Tigre in about three hours. The first official regatta was held on December 8 1873. Representatives from various countries attended.
Tigre offered optimal rowing conditions. Despite its difficult access the Buenos Aires Rowing Club members established a storage box there for their boats. The club’s early home was an old ship the Sunny South. Later a generous donation of land bordering the Matanza River allowed for a wood shack. The club expanded. By 1885 it owned a 1600 square meter plot in Tigre. A building was constructed at a cost of 10000.
The Buenos Aires Rowing Club’s influence grew. The yellow fever epidemic and railway development encouraged many clubs to move to Tigre. Fifteen years after its founding British members left to form the Tigre Boat Club. The Argentine Rowing Association formed in 1901. This included six clubs including the Buenos Aires Rowing Club.
The club’s main Tigre seat opened in 1911. It was renovated and expanded in 1913. The Victorian architecture is stunning. The Buenos Aires Rowing Club continues to thrive. It offers more than just rowing. Canoeing football swimming tennis gymnastics and roller skating are also available. The Buenos Aires Rowing Club is a testament to the enduring spirit of sport and community.