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Aligner |
The person at the starting dock who aligns the boats evenly for a fair start.
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Astern |
Rear section of the shell.
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Backsplash |
This term is in reference to the water thrown back towards the bow direction (i.e. towards the direction of motion of the shell) by the blade as it enters the water at the catch. Many excellent coaches and rowers (please correct me if this has changed) would say that a small amount of backsplash is desired. This indicates that the blade has been properly planted in the water before the rower initiates the drive with the legs. Obviously (maybe it isn't) the smaller the backsplash, the better it is. I suppose the ideal is, with a sufficiently quick catch, no splash at all.
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Blade |
The wide flat section of the oar at the head of the
shaft that pushes against the water. This term is often used when referring to
the entire oar. |
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Body Angle |
Leaning to the left or to the right in the boat. Ideally a rower should sit upright for the entire stroke except for a slight lean into the rigger at the catch. Improper body angle can result in bad keel.
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Bow |
The forward end of the shell. Also used as the name of the person sitting nearest to the bow.
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Bucket Rigging |
The rigging of an eight or a four so that riggers 2 and 3 are on the same side.
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The point of the rowing cycle at which the blade enters the water at the end of the recovery and is accomplished by an upward motion of the arms only. The blade of the oar must be fully squared at the catch. Look and see if all eight hit the catch together. That is, do their blades all enter the water together? Also, watch the bodies of the crew - see if they all move in unison, or if there is a break. The lack of uniformity means an additional check, therefore slowing the run.
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Check |
Any abrupt deceleration of the shell caused by some uncontrolled motion within the shell; an interruption in the forward motion of the shell. The coxswain is probably the most acutely aware of this abrupt deceleration and it has been known to cause whiplash in some extreme cases.
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"Check it down" |
Call by the Coxwain to instruct all the rowers to drag their oar blades through the water perpendicularly, effectively stopping the boat.
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Collar |
A plastic or metal fitting tightened on the oar to keep the it from slipping through the oarlock.
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Course |
A straight race course for rowers that has 4-6 lanes. In high school the length is 1,500 meters, while in college and the Olympics, the length is 2,000 meters.
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pronounced COX-SIN. The coxswain is the captain and motivator of the boat, determining the pace and rhythm of the vessel during a race. His/Her voice should be the only one heard while onboard. He/She will also steer the boat and warn the crew of potential problems, and pays for the power trip by being tossed in the drink if the team wins. A knowledgeable coxswain can also serve as a coach for the rowers and can be the difference between winning and losing a race.
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A small electronic device which amplifies the coxwain's voice and also provides readout of various information |
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Crab |
A stroke that goes bad. The oar blade slices into the water at an angle and gets caught under the surface, usually right after the catch or just before the release, and is caused by improper squaring or feathering. The momentum of the shell can overcome the rower's control of the oar. In more extreme cases a bad crab can catapult you out of the boat.
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Crew |
The men and women manning a racing shell.
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CRASH-B |
CRASH-B stands for the Charles River All-Star Has Beens, a pseudonym coined by the founders, members of the 1980 US Olympic Rowing Team. CRASH-B is an organization that runs the regatta which takes place at MIT's Rockwell Cage. Concept-II supplies the ergs and brings winners of satellite regattas to the CRASH-B Sprints. Community Rowing of Boston helps sell the ergs at a $50 discount when the regatta is over.
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Drive |
That part of the rowing cycle when the rower applies power to the oar. This is a more (or less) blended sequence of applying power primarily with a leg drive, then the back and finally the arms.
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ERG
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The ergometer simulates the physical demands of
rowing. Almost all rowers use the Concept II rowing ergometer. Obviously ergometers don't float, but
the Concept II is probably the primary off season training device for
rowers. Concept II's latest model is the Model C, but many of the older models, Model B, still exist. |
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Feathering |
The act of turning the oar blade from a position perpendicular to the surface of the water to a position parallel to the water. This is done in conjunction with the release.
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Center line of shell, running from bow to stern along the bottom; in construction, strengthening member to which ribs are attached.
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Layback |
Amount of backward lean of an oarsman's body at finish of drive; most types of strokes used today have virtually no layback, the drive being completed with the oarsman sitting upright.
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Port |
Left side of shell, facing forward (from stern forward, stroke, 6, 4, 2).
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Pyramid |
A tactical burst of speed of ten or twenty strokes. Frequently the stroke rate comes up during a power ten.
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Puddles |
A measure of your power (and of run). If your blade leaves behind little dinky ripples, then you're not pulling hard enough. If you leave tidal waves after you pull your blade out of the water, then you're pulling just right.
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Ratio |
The ratio of the recovery time to the drive time. The recovery time should always be longer than the drive time (how much longer I won't say ... as someone wrote, the idea is to `move the boat on the pull through (or drive) and take a ride (i.e. relax) on the recovery without sacrificing the very speed that they have generated'). Some say the recovery should be twice as long on the drive.
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Rating |
The number of strokes
per minute. Also known as stroke rating.
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Release |
A sharp downward motion of the hand that serves to remove the blade form the water and start the rowing cycle.
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Recovery |
The time between strokes while the oar blade is traveling through the air.
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The relationship between the oar, the rigger, and the position of each rower. Changing the rigging means changing the leverage, just as a bicycle rider changes gears. Most crews have an optimum number of strokes per minute (usually 32-36), depending on their size, strength and experience. The rigging is adjusted to keep them rowing at that rating whether they have a headwind or a tailwind.
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Either an outrigger, the device which allows the oarlock to be
outside of the shell, permitting longer oars and better leverage, or
a person who rigs boats, a "rowing mechanic". |
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Slide Control |
Oarsman's command of speed at which he/she moves his/her seat along slide during stroke cycle. Rushing the slide - is moving the seat too rapidly during recovery. Shooting the slide - is failing to keep the seat directly under oarsman during drive, thus increasing the body angle.
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Sculling |
Rowing with two oars (usually called sculls).
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Set |
What rowers mean by the set of a boat is `form or carriage of the body or of its parts'. In this case the `body' consists of the shell and the rowers. Items that can affect the set of the boat are the rower's posture, hand levels, rigging (the favorite culprit ... especially with the more advanced rowers), timing at the catch and release, and outside conditions such as the wind. It is not unusual for rowers within a shell not to agree on what needs to be done to establish a `good' set, i.e. a level, stable shell that will provide the basis for that symphony of motion.
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Shell |
A racing boat. Also called a "shell" because of the thinness of the hull, one-eighth to one-quarter inch thick to make it as light as possible. Lengths reach 60-plus feet with a weight of about 250 pounds. A racing shell costs in the range of $30,000. Can reach speeds up to 15 mph.
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Skeg |
A small stationary fin located at the stern section of the boat used to help stabilize the shell in holding a true course. Not the same as a rudder.
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Skying |
The fault of carrying the hands too low during the recovery especially when a rower dips his or her hands just prior to the catch (i.e. a sort of winding up). This usually results in the blade being too high off the water's surface.
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Slide |
The track on which the seat moves.
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Squaring |
The reverse of feathering conducted during the recovery to prepare to enter the water.
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Starboard |
Right side of shell, facing forward. Oars on the starboard side of a standard-rigged boat are the Bow, 3, 5, 7.
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The rowing action; the term can also refer to the rower who sets the pace for the rest of the crew. He or she sits nearest the stern. The stroke begins with the placing of the oar in the water and ends when the oar has reemerged and is posed to begin another cycle. The stroke may be broken down into the recovery, catch, drive, and release. The power for the stroke is supplied by the driving down of the rower's legs and the pulling back with shoulders and back; the sliding seat helps to generate great power through the rower's legs and feet. This entire sequence of rhythmical, balanced movements is repeated from 32 to 40 times per min, depending on conditions, strategy, and length of the race.
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Stroke Rate |
The number of strokes per minute.
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Stroke Watch |
Stop watch specially calibrated to give stroke ratings over three or four strokes.
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Sweep |
Rowing with one oar per person, as distinct from sculling.
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Washing Out |
When oar blade comes out of water during drive - creating surface wash, losing power and unsteadying shell.
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