Steve Full, who coached the Vashon Island Rowing Club for the past year, recently accepted a position as the freshman women’s rowing coach at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. 

Under Full’s direction, Vashon’s junior crew sent a record four boats to the national competition, where two placed in their events. Also in the past year, four junior rowers were chosen to attend highly selective national training camps, three of them earning spots on national teams and one going on to represent the U.S. at the world competition.

Full, who is 26 and was a national champion rower at the University of Washington, said that while moving to Georgetown is a great opportunity for a coach his age and is undoubtedly the right career move, he leaves the Vashon club with sadness. 

“I’m going to miss the people. Everyone since I’ve been here has been so amazing,” Full said. “There’s always going to be a place in my heart for Vashon.”

Beginning this fall the club will be coached by Islander Charlie Helsby.  Helsby has rowed for nearly 40 years, rowed competitively with VIRC for almost a decade and has taught private sculling lessons for the past seven years.

Helsby said he is excited to coach a sport that he is so passionate about. He has already done planning and said he has a lot of ideas for the club.

“I’m interested in making a long-term commitment and building a program over the long term,” he said.