Cal Lightweight Rowing has always been more than a sport — it’s a shared history built on early mornings on the Oakland Estuary, boat-to-boat battles, long drives to regattas, and the kind of camaraderie that lasts for decades. For generations, student-athletes have poured their hearts, discipline, and grit into representing the Blue & Gold with pride, often with limited resources but unlimited drive.

Friends of California Lightweight Rowing (FCLR) was created to ensure that this tradition not only survives, but thrives. We are a nonprofit founded and led by alumni and friends who deeply believe in what this program gave to us — and what it can give to future athletes. Our mission is simple: to strengthen the program through responsible stewardship, sustained fundraising, and active alumni engagement, so that today’s rowers can pursue excellence with the support and stability they deserve.

We exist because Lightweight Rowing has shaped lives. Because generations of athletes rowed with heart, often overcoming challenges using nothing but teamwork, passion, and resilience. And now, it’s our turn to give back — to support the next boat, the next class, and the next chapter of a program rooted in pride, tradition, and possibility.