Boats, Positions, and Equipment

ROWER POSITIONS (SEATS):

Each seat in the boat is numbered according to its position going from bow to stern. In an eight the seats would be 1 to 8 & cox. Two seats, however, are more commonly given a different name. The #1 seat, that closest to the bow, is called “bow seat”. The rowing seat closest to the stern is called “stroke”. Rowers are often called by their seat number, both by the coach and coxswain, so always be aware of your seat.

The coach or coxswain also will often call for groups to row according to their place in the boat; ie: bow pair or stern four.

Additionally, rowers need to be aware of which side they are rowing, whether port or starboard as rowing commands are often given by side, such as “check it on port”.

THE BOAT:

• Hull - the actual boat. The hull is very thin and fragile. It scratches and can be punctured easily. Be especially careful when moving the boat, always listening to the commands of the coach and the coxswain. NEVER step over the hull; always walk around.
• Board/Deck - there are both stern and bow decks on the shell. These decks form compartments to trap air for flotation in the event of swamping or flipping.
• Seat - on wheels that allow forward and back movement. Also a rower’s place and # in the boat.
• Tracks - guides in which the seat wheels roll (also called slides).
• Foot Stretcher - adjustable plate to which the shoes are attached, allowing adjustment for length.
• Rigger - metal or composite “arm” attached to the exterior of the boat that holds the oar.
• Oarlock - “U” shaped plastic part in which the oar is placed.

OARS:

• Blade - the flat part of the oar that enters the water. Either hatchet shaped or, in older oars, tulip (Macon blades).
• Handle - the oar part you hold on to; may be wood or composite with rubber grips.
• Sleeve - plastic plate about 2/3 up the shaft that goes in the oarlock.
• Collar - plastic piece attached around the sleeve that is pressed against the oarlock keeping the oar in the proper place.
• Clam - a clip-on plastic piece that fits against the collar adjusting the load on the oar.

Common Terminology

ROWING TERMS:

• Catch - The beginning of the rowing stroke where the oar blade is set in the water.
• Drive - The part of the stroke where the blade is pulled through the water.
• Finish - The final part of the stroke where the blade comes out of the water.
• Release - Pushing down on the handle to raise the blade out of the water at the end of the stroke to begin the recovery.
• Recovery - The part of the stroke where the rower comes slowly up the slide to return to the catch.
• Feathering - Rotating the oar in the oarlock with the inside hand so that the blade is parallel to the water.
• Leg Drive - Pushing with the legs against the foot stretchers on the drive.
• Rushing The Slide - Coming up the slide to the catch too fast causing one’s weight to be thrown toward the stern causing the boat to check (slow down). Most common in novices.
• Missing Water - Not getting the blade into the water soon enough causing one to miss part of the beginning of the stroke (sometimes called rowing into the water).
• Washing Out - Raising the blade out of the water before the finish of the stroke.
• Skying - Coming to the catch with the blade too high above the surface of the water.
• Run - The distance the boat moves after the release while the rower is on the recovery.
• Puddles - Made when the blade is released from the water. Run can be judged by the distance between puddles.
• Crab - When the oar is not released cleanly from the water. A rower “catches a crab” when the oar gets stuck in the water at the finish.

COXSWAIN CALLS

• Coxswain - The person sitting in the stern of the shell who steers, gives commands to the crew and passes on the coach’s directions to the crew. A good coxswain is just as important as the rowers and through good steering, calling a good race plan and motivating the crew can make the difference between winning and losing. When the coach or the coxswain is talking no one else should be saying a word.
• Check It Down - A call for all rowers to square their blades and drag them through the water in order to slow down or stop the boat. The call can also be made for certain rowers only, such as, “check it on port” or “stern pair check it down”. “Check it down hard” usually means there is an emergency and the boat needs to be stopped immediately.
• Hold Water - A call for the rowers to square their blades in the water while the boat is sitting still. This keeps the boat in a set place.
• Let It Run - A call for all rowers to sit with blades off the water at the finish, allowing the shell to glide through the water. Done correctly, the boat will be set (balanced) and no blades will be touching the water. A good drill for correcting set problems, especially those related to lean and handle heights.
• Power 10 - A call for the rowers to take “power” strokes, giving it everything they can for a certain number of strokes. This is used in races to make a move on another crew and, in practice, to build stamina and let rowers realize both how hard they can pull and how that affects the boat’s speed. Can also be a “Power 20″ or more.