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Rowing

- Outside the boat

- Inside the boat

- Oars

- Rowing Stroke

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Rowing Section

Outside the Boat

The boats (or shells) are basically of two types and reflect the two forms of rowing: sweep rowing and sculling. In sweep rowing each rower handles a single oar (about 12.5 ft or 3.9 m long) in sculling a rower uses two oars, or sculls, (each about 9.5 ft or 3 m long). UWBRC mostly use sweeped boats, as we row sweep everyday, and only a few members of the club scull.

The word shell is often used in reference to the boats used because the hull is only about 1/8" to 1/4" thick to make it as light as possible. These shells are also rather long and as narrow as possible, which makes the boats very fast, but also quite hard to 'sit.'.

Each rower has his back to the direction the boat is moving and power is generated using a blended sequence of the rower's legs, back and arms. The rower sits on a sliding seat with wheels on a track called the slide.

The boat is split up into four main parts you should know. Bow Side - the right side of the boat - when sitting in the cox's seat, looking forward; sometimes referred to as starboard. Oars for this side of the boat often have a green marking. Stroke Side - the left side of the boat - when sitting in the cox's seat, looking forward; sometimes referred to as port. Oars for this side of the boat often have a red marking. Stern - the back end of the shell, where the cox usually sits; also the end of the boat with the rudder and/or fin. Bow - the front end of the shell, covered by a bowball.

The Bowball is a small rubber ball that covers the end of the bow; intended to reduce damage upon collision. The fin is a small flat section of metal or fibreglass which helps to keep the boat on course, always under the stern, next to the rudder, which is a a small, movable part, usually metal, that allows the coxswain to steer the boat.

The boats are steered either by the coxswain, or by the bow seat (in boats without a coxswain - called "coxless" boats). Cox's use a rudder to steer the boat, which they control using cables that are connected to it. To help keep the boat on course, all boats have a small fin in the stern.

There are two types of boat - rowing and sculling. There are also boats which can be used for either rowing or sculling, depending on how they're rigged (i.e. the boat comes with two sets of riggers - see the next section for information about riggers). Rowers (sometimes called sweep) have one oar each, while scullers have two oars each.

Inside the Boat

Each rower sits on a sliding seat that rolls on wheels along a fixed track called the slide . Feet are tied into shoes which are bolted onto footplate's in the boat. Each oar is held in place by riggers , which extend from the saxboard . The rigger holds the gate in which the oar sits.

The gate is carefully set up so that the oar is held in the water with a specific amount of pitch or tilt. This is usually about 5 degrees at the midpoint of the stroke although it can change through the stroke, depending how it is set up.

The footplate and stretcher is a fixture in boat that contains shoes screwed into a piece of carbon or metal. This equipment holds the rower's feet into the boat and is the only part of the boat where the rower is firmly attached. The shoes have quick release velcro straps, but should not be over tightened as you may need to release your feet in the event of a capsize. The position of the feet is adjustable to accommodate different height rowers, give yourself plenty of room. This is achieved by loosening the three wing nuts securing the stretcher to the tracks and then lifting and sliding the footplate to the required position. If you are rowing in the same boat regularly, it is a good idea to remember the position of the shoes so that you can adjust the boat before you get in.

The saxboard is the top side of the boat - the edges onto which the riggers are bolted.

The gates is a small plastic part at the end of the rigger that opens at the top. The rower opens the gate, places the oar into it, then shuts the top metal bar, screwing it tightly shut. The gate holds the oar in place during the rowing stroke.

The rigger is the piece of metal support attached to the saxboard that holds the gate, these can be either wing or gull riggers, UWBRC uses gull riggers on all boats.

The slides are tracks underneath each seat which the wheels of the seat slide on, allowing the rower to move back and forth in the boat, utilising their full leg power, it is important to keep these well maintained throughout the year.

The cox box is an electrical device used by the cox, consisting of a microphone and speakers, that amplifies the cox's voice throughout the boat.

Oars are referred to as blades for rowing and sculls for sculling. They are made of carbon fibre although you will start with wooden blades; wooden blades are heavier but can make the boat easier to balance for beginners.

Cleavers - the most commonly used type of oar, made out of fibreglass and carbon fibre. The shafts of the oars are hollow, making them as light as possible, UWBRC has two sets of these, and are used for racing.

Macon - originally created in the 1960's, was the blade of choice until cleavers came into existence. Macon blades are used for novices as they put less strain on your back if you have bad technique.

Blade or Spoon - the end of the oar that is places in the water and used to propel the boat forward; also the oar itself is often referred to as 'a blade.'

Shaft - the long, (now commonly hollow) length of the oar.

Collar or Button - a small plastic piece that is placed against the gate to keep the oar from slipping out.

The Rowing Stroke

Catch - The point where the legs are compressed in a 90 degree angle, the arms are stretched out, the body is angled forward and the blade is enters the water.

Drive - the part of the stroke where the legs are pressing down, then the back and arms swing backward, sending the body to the bow.

Finish - the point where the rower pushes down on the handle of the oar to pop the blade out of the water and begins to push the arms out of the bow.

Recovery - the time spent winding the body back up to the catch, it is like compressing a spring; first the arms extend, then the body angle is achieved, finally the legs are pulled up to the catch. The ratio should take about 3 times longer than the drive.

Square blades - keeping the blade perpendicular to the water on the recovery.

Feathered blades - keeping the blade parallel to the water on the recovery.

Crab - an unfortunate incident when the blade gets caught in the water and the handle of the oar hits the midsection of the rower; can result in getting tossed out of the boat. It is caused by the blade not entering into the water fully square, when pressure is applied to the blade it will just go deeper and deeper in the water.

For a detailed analysis of the rowing stroke, please see the Concept2 website or the good animation by Flip Luisi

For a brilliant DVD, 'Faster with Foster' please visit the new online version, very good breakdown of technique, a must for any novice of the sport wanting to improve.

For a full list of official terms, visit the ARA's A to Z Glossary