A New Zealand resident has been rescued from the Pacific Ocean after the boat he was in began sinking during a 3800km rowing race.

It's been four years since Robbie and Karl Manson rowed together; now they have a chance to throw out a strong bid for Olympic Games selection in two years' time.

London Olympic rowing gold medallist Joseph Sullivan knows about dealing with heat, so it seems appropriate the 27-year-old, who has announced his retirement, will join the fire service.

Many might wilt at the prospect of an hour-long rowing erg at 5am on a fifth floor apartment balcony in Singapore, engulfed by saturating humidity and tortured by the thought of air-conditioned bliss two steps and a ranchslider pull away.

As the country’s top rowers prepare to embark on their international season, several areas shape as pivotal to Rowing New Zealand’s position as our premier Olympic sport.

Kevin Pennell etched his name into the folklore of the Waihi Nugget Multisport Festival recently when he produced a superhuman effort because "he didn't want to let his team mates down".

Mahe Drysdale finds himself in unusual territory as he prepares for this year's European rowing campaign.

The Maadi Cup is proving a nursery not only for future rowing talent but also the next generation of coaches.

When Olympic rowing bronze medallist Storm Uru found himself panting halfway up a Wellington hill after the 2012 London Games, he knew it was time for a fresh physical challenge.

The name is Bond and he's a rower, but this one is Alastair, younger brother of the Olympic champion Hamish.

The most intriguing story of the New Zealand sporting week unfolded in a room beside Lake Karapiro late on Thursday afternoon.

An Olympic champion two years ago, now Joseph Sullivan's form isn't good enough to make the New Zealand elite squad for this year.

Hamish Bond has triumphed over Mahe Drysdale in the single sculls at the national rowing championships with Eric Murray third.

Hamish Bond has triumphed over Mahe Drysdale in the single sculls at the national rowing championships with Eric Murray third.

Seasoned old salts reckon rowing into the cliff-sized waves at Piha is a good way of separating the men from the boys.

NZ's most successful sports will receive a funding boost ahead of the Rio Olympics, while basketball was another winner from today's High Performance Sport NZ investment announcement.

For all New Zealand's notable achievements at the world's premier rowing venues, one combination stands supreme.

Chris Rattue looks at sporting twins, what unites them, and what separates them.