Rowing became established in Memel by the shipyard owner Emil Fechtner who founded the Ruder- und Segelverein Neptun (oar and sail organization Neptun) on October 1st, 1885 together with Benjamin Stephan, Karl Dittrich, Oskar Hewelcke, Otto Kuhn, Emil Kleist, Hermann Krips, Wilhelm Menning, Robert Müschöwsky, John Neidt, Emil Rupson, John Schmidt, Karl Szameitke, Heinrich Schanter und Artur Brauer. It is interesting that one did not intend rowing contests but sailed comfortably with conventional oar boats, fished, strolled, and made excursions. One changed the name to Ruderverein Neptun not until October 25th, 1901 and devoted themselves to the promotion of the sportier rowing, the physical training of the members, particularly the youth. Boats discarded by outward clubs were bought. Making new boats themselves became possible only in the course of time. Systematic race rowing became tackled by Max Pawlowski. The construction of a solid boathouse which got so urgent had to be deferred because of the first World War. The ground-breaking ceremony at the moat for the beautiful compact boathouse which was made of heavy boulders was on April 17th, 1923. Memel's oarsmen often travelled to east prussian regattas from here. Here they started their unforgettable hiking trips into the lagoon and the Memel river basin. Highlights were also the rowing regattas in front of Sandkrug with international participation.