The Art of Rowing
The first thing the newcomer to the sport must do is to master the terminology - in other words, to know the difference between a double and
a coxed pair. Here I've illustrated the eight basic crew layouts, and then I've gone on to define some of the more common bits of 'jargon'
in rowing, so the first time you turn up for training, you'll sound like an expert.
(Our sincere thanks go to Ewoud Dronkert of the Utrecht Student Rowing Club who provided the animations
from his web site)
Basic Crew Layouts
Scull - one person with two oars
Coxless Pair - two people with one oar each
Double - two people with two oars each
Coxed Pair - two people with one oar each and a cox
Coxless Four - four people with one oar each
Coxed Four - four people with one oar each and a cox
Front-coxed Four - four people with one oar each and a cox in the bow
Eight - eight people with one oar each and a cox
Outside the boat
- Shell
- the boat itself
- Stroke side
- port - the left side of the boat - when sitting in the coxswain's seat, looking forward.
- Bow side
- starboard - the right side of the boat - when sitting in the coxswain's seat, looking forward.
- Stern
- the back end of the shell, where the coxswain usually sits; also the end of the boat with the skeg.
- Bow
- the front end of the shell, covered by a bowball.
- Bowball
- small rubber ball that covers the end of the bow.
- Fin
- the fin under the stern of the boat which helps to keep the shell on course.
- Rudder
- a small, movable part that sits under the stern of the boat; allows the coxswain to steer the boat.
- Cleavers or Hatchets
- the most commonly used type of oar, made out of fiberglass and carbon fiber.
The shafts of the oars are hollow, making them as light as possible.
- Macon
- originally created in the 1960's, was the blade of choice until hatchets came into existence.
- Blade
- the end of the oar that is places in the water and used to propel the boat forward; also the oar itself is oftentimes referred to as a blade.
- Shaft
- the long, hollow length of the oar.
- Collar
- a small plastic piece that is placed against the oarlock to keep the oar from slipping out.
Inside the shell
- Footstretcher
- fixture in boat that contains shoes screwed into a piece of wood. This
contraption holds the rower's feet into the boat and is the only part of the boat where
the rower is firmly attached.
- Saxboard or Gunwale
- (gunnel) - this is the
top side of the boat - the edges onto which the riggers are bolted.
- Gate or Swivel or rowlock
- the small device at
the end of the rigger that opens at the top. The rower opens the rowlock, places the oar
into it, then shuts the top metal bar, screwing it tightly shut. The rowlock holds the oar
in place during the rowing stroke.
- Rigger
- The metal support
attached to the gunwale that holds the swivel.
- Slide
- the tracks underneath
each seat which the wheels of the seat slide on, allowing the rower to move back and forth
in the boat, utilizing their full leg power.
- Cox Box
- a device used by
the coxswain, consisting of a microphone and speakers, that amplifies the coxswain's voice
throughout the boat.
The Athletes
Each person in the boat has a position, starting in the bow. The person closest to the
bow is called "bow". Every other seat is called by the number of the seat, except the
lead rower, who is the stroke.
- Coxswain
-
(cox'n) - the person steering the boat who also motivates the rowers, helps them keep
their pace and helps to correct technique and unify the crew.
