Competitive rowing at Westies ranges from sub-junior and school-aged through to veterans of the sport, and the club can also cater for all skill levels. The squads are divided into men, women and skill level so athletes are able to row with their peer group. Rowers train between three and four on-water sessions per week, although senior crews may train more often towards the State championships.

Week-day morning sessions start at 5:15am and wind up about 7am, although some leeway may be required. Evening ergometer sessions start at 5.30pm although later sessions can be organised. Weekly boatings are usually sent out ahead of time and rowers are expected to ensure the coach knows their availability each week.

Coaching manager Alex Jolly coordinates a team of coaches, including head coaches Jacki Morrell and Matt Higgins, to ensure rowers have consistent guidance at all levels, from novice through to national level competition. He also coordinates land training for athletes with two ergs and a cross-training session each week.

Rowers are expected to compete in a range of regattas each season, culminating with the State championships in September.

From April to September, the regatta schedule averages out to have an event about every fortnight.

There are three types of events held during winter: Head Races, Pennant regattas and School regattas.

Head races are single-race events over a longer distance than the FISA-ruled 2km pennant distance. The races usually award line honours and fastest crews for different categories. Rowers do not earn individual status points for winning a headrace, but clubs are awarded premiership points. The most prestigious headrace of the winter season is the Fremantle Perth to Fremantle. At 17km (or 10km, or 14km, depending on who you talk to) it is one of the longest riverboat races in the world.

Pennant regattas are held mostly in the latter half of the season and provide the more traditional style rowing. Race lengths vary from 500m for sub-junior (under 15) events to 2000m for open events, with most heats held over a shorter distance. Competitors are usually expected to enter more than one event during a pennant regatta and may race multiple times. Regattas are held at the Champion Lakes facility in Armadale, on Canning River, in Bunbury and on the Swan River in Bayswater.

Individual rowers are awarded status points for winning at pennant regattas and once they have won enough points are expected to row up a category. The categories of events include E and D grade (novice 1000m events) C grade (intermediate, 1500m events) B and A Grade (2000m events). Rowers aged over 27 years have the option of competing in veteran events over 1000m and those aged 15 and under can compete in sub-junior events over 500m.

The season culminates with the State Titles at the end of September or early October.