OARS and SCULLS and parts of the boat

Scull - the oar used for sculling. The standard length scull is 298cms, but the newer shaped sculls are shorter, usually 289 - 291 cms, because they have a bigger blade area.

Blade - the broad part of the scull at the opposite end to the handle which locks into the water during the stroke.

Macon Blade - the traditional tulip-shaped blade used for about the last thirty years.

Cleaver Blade - the new hatchet-shaped blade developed in the last five years. It is thought to be a more efficient shape and feels more solid in the water.

Collar - the circular plastic ring fitted to the oar and scull about one third of the overall length from the handle. The collar can be moved in towards the handle or away from it to alter the gearing of the scull.

Foot Stretcher. Also stretcher; an adjustable platform with two inclined footrests that hold the rower's shoes. The shoes are bolted into the footrests. The rower pushes his legs against the foot stretcher during the

Bow ball. A round rubber protrusion attached to the boat's bow for protection.

Seat. The sliding seat the rower sits on. Seat also refers to the rower's sequential position in the boat; Fseat positions are numbered from bow to stern. The rower closest to the bow is the One Seat, the next is the Two Seat, and so on.

Gunwales. Pronounced "guh-nells," these are the top edges of the sides of the boat, where the riggers attach.

Oarlock. A square latch that holds the oar at the outer point of the rigger. The oarlock is the pivot point for the oar; the fulcrum of the lever.

Port. The left side of the boat when facing forward (toward the bow); to the coxswain's left and the rowers' right.

Starboard. The right side of the boat when facing forward (toward the bow); to the coxswain's right and the rowers' left.

Stern-four. Seats eight through five in an eight-boat.

Bow-four- seats 1-4 in and eight boat.

Stern-pair. Seats eight and seven in a four or eight person boat.

Bow-pair. seats one and two in a four or eight person boat.

Stern. The rear of the boat; the direction the rowers are facing.

Rigger. A triangular-shaped metal frame that is bolted onto the gunwale for each oar position. The outboard end of the rigger is the pivot point—or fulcrum—for the oar.

TYPES OF BOATS

SINGLE (1x) - a one man / woman sculling boat.

DOUBLE (2x) - a two man / woman sculling boat

QUAD (4x +/-) - a four man / woman sculling boat

OCTUPLE (8x) - a eight man / woman sculling boat

PAIR (2 +/-) - a two man / woman rowing boat

FOUR (4 +/-) - a four man / woman rowing boat

EIGHT (8+) - an eight man / woman rowing boat, always coxed

COXED (+) - a boat which is steered by a person other than the rowers.

COXLESS (-) - a boat which is steered by one of the rowers

BOW LOADER - a boat which is steered by the cox who is lying in the bows of the boat. Most coxed pairs and fours are bowloaders

STERN LOADER - a boat which is steered by the cox sitting in the stern of the boat. Almost all eights are sternloaders.

THE PERSONNEL

The seats in the boat are numbered 1-4 or 1-8 from the bow.

BOW - the rower or sculler nearest the bow of the boat (seat 1)

STROKE - the rower or sculler nearest the stern of the boat. He/She is responsible for setting the rating and rhythm in the boat. (Seat 4 or 8 depending on size of boat)

COX - the person who is responsible for steering the boat. They control the rudder, communicate w/the coach and make all commands to the rowers. Short for Coswain.

STEERSMAN - the rower / sculler who steers a coxless boat. He has a rowing shoe which swivels and is attached to the rudder by wires.

OTHER ROWING TERMS

Erg, erg machine. Short for ergometer, a piece of exercise equipment that provides an excellent land-based simulation of the motion and physical stresses of rowing. Rowers workout on erg machines to build their stamina and endurance. Modern erg machines usually have a digital readout that provides stroke rate, equivalent distance covered, split times and elapsed times.

Run. The distance over water that the boat covers during one stroke. Run can be visually measured by estimating the distance between successive catches or puddles made by the same oar.

Crab. An oar blade that gets "stuck" in the water. The result of a poorly executed stroke, usually caused when the blade enters the water at an angle instead of perpendicular.

Missing water. A late catch, resulting in a shorter drive and, thus, less propulsion of the boat.

Rush the slide. To move from the recovery to the catch too quickly, often the result of a lunge.

Check. An abrupt deceleration of the boat caused by uncontrolled motion within the shell; usually a result of poor rowing technique or ‘slamming the stearn’.

Slamming the stern: caused when the recovery in rushed or uncontrolled.

Set. The boat's balance; a delicate state influenced by each rower's body lean, timing, and rowing technique, and by the boat's design.

Skying. Poor catch technique in which the blade only skims the water surface, causing a loss of power. The blade is above the water or ‘in the sky’, caused when handle position is too low.

Slide. Set of two runner tracks for the wheels mounted underneath each seat in the boat.

Rating - the number of strokes taken per minute. In a race the rating might be 35 strokes per minute rising to over 40 in a sprint.

Regatta - a boat racing event

Head - A Head of the River Race, which is a long distance race in the winter months. The boats are started one after another with a ten second gap and they are timed over the course.

Stakeboats - small boats or platforms moored in the river and used during a regatta to keep the boats level at the start before they race.

PARTS OF THE STROKE

Catch. Stroke phase at the instant the oar blade enters the water. The rower is at full compression up the slide, and tries to reach as far as possible to obtain a long stroke. The boat is at its greatest moment of instability during the catch, placing a premium on balance.

Drive. Stroke phase during which the rower presses with his or her legs against the foot stretchers and pulls on the oar(s) to force the blade through the water and propel the boat. The drive phase is a coordinated full-body movement using the legs, back and arms. the rower remains upright during the first half of the drive. Midway through, after the knees come down, the rower leans back and pulls the oar(s) in with his or her arms. Ideal technique keeps the blade(s) just below the surface of the water and accelerates smoothly from start to the finish.

Finish. The last phase of the drive, just before the before the release. Power is coming mainly coming from the back and arms at the finish.

Recovery. Stroke phase between the release and the catch, during which the oar is brought into position for the next stroke and the rower moves smoothly—and slowly—back up the slide. If the rower is too fast returning up the slide, his or her momentum will check the boat. The rower feathers the oar during recovery.

Release. Stroke phase, starting the rowing stroke or following the finish of the drive (take your pick), when the blade(s) exit the water. The release is a sharp downward and away-from-the-body movement of the hand(s), causing the oar blade to rise. After the blade exits the water, the rower feathers the oar.

Feather, feathering. Rotating the oar in the oarlock so the blade is parallel to the water surface. Feathering the blade while it is out of the water minimizes air resistance.

Square. To turn the blade perpendicular to the water surface. The blade is squared at the end of the recovery, in preparation for the catch.           

Table top: Term used to remind the rower to keep handle heights level throughout the stroke.

Layback. Degree of backward lean of the rower's body at the end of the finish.

Hand heights. level at which you keep your oar handle through all parts of the stroke.  It is important to keep this position neutral and to match the height of the rowing in front of you.  This keeps the boat SET (level or even keel).

Washing out. Taking the blade out of the water too early.

COMMANDS

Check it down! and Hold water! A coxswain's call that commands all rowers to drag their blades through the water perpendicularly, braking the boat.

Let it run! Coxswain's call for all rowers to stop rowing, permitting the boat to glide through the water. Used after the boat crosses the finish line, and during drills to improve lateral balance.

Hands on: taking position on the boat, holding the gunwales in preparation for lifting/moving the boat.

Weigh enough/wainoff: stop what you are doing immediately and wait for next command

Sit ready: sit at the finish or catch and wait for start command, this way all rowers begin together.

Back it down: back up the boat to get position or turn around.

Up/down to waist: boat is moved from the ‘hands on’ or ‘shoulders’ position in preparation for moving.                                               

Up to shoulders: lift boat up to shoulders.  Position for carrying the boat to and from the boat landing

Up and over heads: all rowers lift the boat above their heads in unison until arms are straight and elbows are in locked position.  This is done from the ‘shoulders’ position and used to place boat into and take out of the water.

Inside grip: rowers take a secure grip on the gunwales to roll the boat down to the water.

Split to shoulders: command from the ‘up and over heads’ position.  Rowers move to the right or left side of the boat opposite of the person in front of them (usually starts w/stroke seat).  Then the boat is set on the shoulders and rowers wait for the next command.

One foot in/out: rowers prepare for entrance or exit of the boat.

Even pressure: All rower take even stokes, not attempting to turn the boat or pull harder/softer than their pair.

Hard on starboard/port: command given to increase pressure on one side or the other in order to turn to boat.  Can be tactical, used to turn around, or avoid obstacles in the water.