| Aligner |
| The official responsible for making sure boats
are properly lined up at the start of a race |
|
| Backing |
| A backwards stroke used to turn a boat, ease
it into a dock, or back it into starting blocks. |
|
| Blade |
| The flat portion of the oar that enters the
water. Blade is also sometimes used as a slang term for an oar. |
|
| Boathouse |
| A structure used for storing boats. Boathouses range
from crude shelters to multi-million dollar facilities. |
|
| Buoy |
| A floating marker used to mark the edges of a
race course. Passing on the wrong side of a buoy can result in
disqualification. |
|
| Bow |
| The forward section of the boat. The term is
also used to refer to the rower in the boat's front seat. |
|
| Bow Four |
| The rowers in the front four seats of an eight
person shell. |
|
| Bow Pair |
| The rowers in the first two seats of a four or
eight person shell. |
|
| Bow-coxed boat |
| Also sometimes called a "bow loader," this is
a type of shell in which the coxswain is in the bow instead of the stern.
The coxswain in a bow-coxed boat rides lying on his or her back. This
reclining position helps reduce wind resistance. |
|
| Bowball |
| A round rubber bumper attached to the front of
the boat. The bowball helps keep the delicate prow of a racing shell
from being damaged. |
|
| Bucket rigging |
| A method of rigging a four or eight-person
shell in which rowers in two consecutive seats row on the same side of the
boat. Also known as "German rigging." |
|
| Button |
| A metal or plastic ring attached to an oar that
prevents an oar from slipping through an oarlock. Also called a "collar." |
|
| Cadence |
| The stroke tempo maintained by a crew. In a
coxed boat, the coxswain often calls the the cadence to keep the rowers
synchronized. Also referred to as the "rate." |
|
| Catch |
| The moment in a rower's stroke in which the
blade of the oar enters the water. A shell is particularly unstable at the
moment of the catch. |
|
| Check |
| A bobbing motion that can cause a rowing
shell to decelerate. A check is generally the result of unwanted motion in
the shell. It often occurs during the catch or finish portion of the
stroke. |
|
| Check it |
| Coxswain's command indicating that crew
members on one side of the boat should stop rowing. Generally used
when the boat must execute a sharp turn or maneuver into a tight space. |
|
| Collar |
| A metal or plastic ring attached to an oar
that prevents it from slipping through an oarlock. Also called a "button." |
|
| Coxed four |
| A type of shell with four rowers and a
coxswain. Rowers in a coxed four use sweep oars. |
|
| Coxed pair |
| A shell with two rowers and a coxswain. Coxed
pairs are relatively uncommon in North America. |
|
| Cox box |
| An electronic device that combines a voice
amplifier with a digital stroke rate monitor and a digital stopwatch. In
addition to allowing communication with the crew, the cox box provides
information that allows the coxswain to manage a race. |
|
| Coxswain |
| Pronounced "cox-en," this is the person charged with both steering a shell
and acting as an on-the-water coach for the crew. Most rowing shells
have the coxswain in the stern, although a few put him or her in the bow.
Coxswains are chosen for their light weight, loud voices, and ability to
manage a crew. The coxswain is frequently referred to as the "cox." |
|
| Crab |
| A stroke in which the oar blade enters the
water at an angle and gets caught under the surface. "Catching a crab" can
sharply slow a boat and may force the shaft of the oar into the rower's
face or chest. |
|
| Crew |
| A term with multiple (and sometimes confusing)
meanings, "crew" is used to describe the rowers in an
individual boat, a rowing team, and the sport of rowing. |
|
| Deck |
| The covered portion at the bow and stern of a
rowing shell. Once made of canvas, decks are now constructed of
fiberglass, plastic or carbon fiber. |
|
| Digging |
| A situation in which an oar is plunged too
deeply into the water, resulting in loss of forward momentum. |
|
| Double |
| An uncoxed shell with a pair of rowers, each
of whom uses two sculling oars. |
|
| Drive |
| The power portion of a rowing stroke. The
drive phase occurs when the rower presses backward, forcing the oar
through the water. When properly executed, the drive phase of the stroke
involves the smoothly coordinated movements of legs, torso and arms. |
|
| Eight |
| A shell that seats eight rowers using sweep
oars and a coxswain. |
|
| Ergometer |
| Frequently referred to as an "erg," this is a
specialized exercise machine that simulates the motion and stresses of
rowing. Ergometers are the favored dry land workout for rowers. |
|
| Erg test |
| An objective test of strength and conditioning
involving rowing on an ergometer for a specific time or distance.
Few rowers look forward to erg tests. |
|
| Feathering |
| The act of rotating the oar so the blade is
parallel to the water surface. Feathering the blade while t is out of the
water minimizes air resistance. |
|
| Fin |
| A small flat appendage or ridge located on the
bottom of the hull near the stern of the boat. The fin helps the boat to
track in a straight line. Also called a "skeg." |
|
| Finish |
| The last part of the drive in the stroke
cycle. The finish of the stroke occurs when the rower uses his or her arms
and legs to pull the oar to the body, then extracts the blade from the
water. |
|
| FISA |
| The international governing and organizing
body for rowing. FISA is an acronym for Federation Internationale
des Societes d'Aviron, The organization, which was established
in 1892, oversees most international rowing competitions, including the
Olympics. |
|
| Foot stretcher |
| An adjustable device in a racing shell the
provides two inclined footrests on which are mounted shoes or clogs. The
foot stretcher is designed to hold the rower's feet, allowing the use of
the legs to power the stroke. Often referred to simply as a "stretcher." |
|
| Freshman |
| A special racing class limited to rowers who
are in the ninth grade, although in some cases rowers in the sixth,
seventh and eighth grades are allowed to compete as freshman. |
|
| Four |
| A shell with four rowers using sweep oars. A
four may or may not have a coxswain. |
|
| Gate |
| A bar across the top of the oarlock that keeps
the oar in place. |
|
| German rigging |
| A method of rigging a four or eight-person
shell in which rowers in two consecutive seats row on the same side of the
boat. Also known as "Bucket rigging." |
|
| Gunwales |
| Pronounced "gun-nells," these are the top
edges of the sides of a shell. The riggers attach to the gunwales. |
|
| Hatchet |
| Style of oar with a blade that looks vaguely like the head
of a hatchet. These oars, which are are almost universally used when
racing, provide an optimum amount of surface area, and thus potentially
greater speed. |
|
| Heat |
| Preliminary race used to select which boats in
a particular category will compete to determine a final, ultimate winner.
Heats are held in events in which there are more boats than available
lanes, necessitating separate qualifying races to determine the final
field. |
|
| Head race |
| A race against the clock in which boats
starting at intervals (usually 10 seconds apart). Head races are most
often held in the fall. Many feature courses that are somewhat longer and
more windy than other types of regattas. The name comes from a traditional
English race called the "Head of the River." |
|
| Hold water |
| Command given by the coxswain when the boat
needs to be brought to a stop. When told to "hold water, " each rower
squares their blade in the water creating drag. |
|
| Hull |
| The outer skin of a boat. Rowing shells
were originally constructed of wood. Later fiberglass hulls became
popular. Now, the fastest shells are constructed with kevlar or carbon
fiber hulls. |
|
| Keel |
| The centerline of the the bottom of a boat's
hull. Unlike most other boats, rowing shells do not have a ridged keel. |
|
| Layback |
| The angle of a rower's backward lean at the
end of a stroke. |
|
| Let it run |
| Coxswain's command indicating that crew should
stop rowing and allow the boat to coast. Rowers are expected to keep their
blades in the air to allow the boat to move without impediment. |
|
| Lightweight |
| A racing category in which all rowers must be
below a certain body weight. Lightweight class weight limits are 150
pounds for boys and 130 pounds for girls. Rowers in the lightweight class
may be required to weigh-in on race day. |
|
| Lunge |
| An error in technique in which the rower
abruptly leans his or her body to plunge the oar into the water. A rower
who lunges can cause the rest of the crew to lose synchronization. |
|
| Macon |
| The classic style of oar in which the shaft tapers to the
blade. Although they are used in the logos of many rowing clubs, these
oars are rarely, if ever, used in competition. |
|
| Missing water |
| A stroke error in which the blade of the oar
enters the water later than expected, resulting in a shorter and less
powerful drive. |
|
| Novice |
| A first-year rower, regardless of age. Many
sanctioning bodies offer special categories in races for novices. |
|
| Number off |
| The coxswain call used to confirm that each
crew member is ready to row. From bow to stern, each rower calls their
seat number to indicate readiness. |
|
| Oar |
| A device used to propel the boat forward. The
oars used in rowing events should never be referred to as "paddles." |
|
| Oarlock |
| A piece of hardware that provides a fulcrum
for the oar at the outer point of the rigger. |
|
| Oarlock |
| A U-shaped piece of hardware that provides a
fulcrum for the oar at the outer point of the rigger. The oar is placed in
the oarlock, then a piece of metal called the "gate" is secured on top,
holding the oar in place. |
|
| Off keel |
| A situation in which the boat leans to one
side or another. Usually a boat goes off keel because one of more of the
rowers is not correctly centered in the boat. |
|
| Pair |
| A two-seat shell in which each rower uses a
sweep oar. |
|
| Pick it |
| Coxswain 's command for the crew to execute a
rapid stroke in which only the arms are used. This type of stroke is
often used to maneuver a boat in tight quarters. |
|
| Pitch |
| The angle of an oar in relationship to the
water. |
|
| Pogies |
| Mitten-like devices used to keep rowers hands
warm during cold weather. Pogies, which are often made of neoprene, fit
around the oar with a hole for the hand. |
|
| Port |
| The left side of the boat from the coxswain's
perspective. |
|
| Port rigged |
| A shell set up so that the crew member in the
number eight seat (the stroke) rows on the port side. |
|
| Power 10 |
| Coxswain's command for the rowers to perform
10 strokes at maximum exertion. A power 10 is a used to overtake or pull
away from the competition in a close race. |
|
| Puddle |
| The whirlpool-like swirl of water created by
the end of an oar's stroke. |
|
| Pyramid |
| A training technique in which the coxswain
calls on the crew to execute a series of maximum effort strokes,
with each series involving more strokes than the last. After the top
of the pyramid is reached, the coxswain calls for a further series of
power strokes, with each successive series made up of fewer strokes. |
|
| Quad |
| A boat with four rowers, each of whom uses two
sculling oars. A quad may or may not have a coxswain. |
|
| Race pace |
| A highest number of strokes per minute that a
crew is capable of sustaining for an entire race. |
|
| Racing start |
| The opening strokes of a race, typically rowed
at a high intensity in order to accelerate and get a jump on the
competition. |
|
| Racks |
| Supports to hold a boat in place when it is out of the
water. Also called slings or trestles. |
|
| Rate |
| The stroke tempo maintained by a crew. In a
coxed boat, the coxswain often calls the the cadence to keep the rowers
synchronized. Also referred to as the "cadence." |
|
| Recovery |
| The phase of a stroke between the release and
the catch, when the blade of the oar is feathered and moved through the
air and the rower moves up the slide to prepare for the next stroke. The
recovery should be performed smoothly and slowly so that the rower's
momentum on the slide does not check the boat. |
|
| Regatta |
| An organized crew competition which usually
involves a series of events involving different categories based on
factors such as the size of the boats involved, ages of rowers, crew
experience levels, and even the weight of individual athletes. |
|
| Release |
| The phase of a stroke that marks the finish of
the drive, when the blade of the oar exits the water. During the release
the rower moves the shaft of the oar sharply downward and away from the
body, causing the blade to rise. |
|
| Repechage |
| Pronounced "rep-eh-shahj," this is a second
qualifying heat for a boat that has already lost, providing a second
chance to advance to the finals. A repechage ensures that everyone has two
chances to advance from a preliminary race, and helps prevent situations
in a competitive boat is eliminated by initially racing in a heat in which
the fastest boats are clustered. |
|
| Rig |
| The pattern in which riggers are bolted onto
the gunwales of a shell, which in turn dictates how the oars and rowers
are arranged. The term is also used to refer to the process of preparing
the boat for use. |
|
| Rigger |
| A triangular-shaped metal frame that is bolted
onto the gunwale, allowing the oarlock to be located away from the side of
the boat. |
|
| Rudder |
| A small movable fin located near the stern of
a shell. The coxswain steers the boat by moving the rudder via a system of
cables. |
|
| Run |
| The distance covered by a shell during a
single stroke. The length of the run is measured by observing the distance
between successive "puddles" made by the same oar. |
|
| Rush the slide |
| An error in which a rower moves too quickly
from the recovery to the catch, resulting in a loss of the boat's
momentum. Rushing the slide is often a side effect of a lunge. |
|
| Scull |
| An oar designed meant to be operated with a single hand.
About nine feet long, sculls are used in pairs. The word scull is also
used to describe the action of rowing a boat using such oars. |
|
| Sculling |
| Rowing using a pair of oars, each of which is operated
with a single hand. |
|
| Seat |
| The sliding seat on which a the rower sits. Seat positions
are numbered from bow to stern, with seat number one being the closest to
the front of the boat. |
|
| Seat races |
| Special intramural races held to determine the boat
assignments or team positions. In seat racing, crew members are compared
by having two rowers switch places in boats in which the crews are
otherwise unchanged. |
|
| Set |
| The boat's vertical alignment on the water. Set is a
matter of balance, which can be influenced by each rower's technique and
by the boat's design. |
|
| Shell |
| Long narrow boats purpose-built for racing .Shells are
light in weight for their size, thin-skinned and minimally appointed.
They are designed to be rowed by either a single person of a crew of
rowers seated in tandem. |
|
| Single |
| A boat that seats one rower who rows with two oars, one in
each hand. |
|
| Skying |
| A stroke defect in which the rower misses the catch,
causing the blade to merely skim the surface of the water instead of
producing thrust. |
|
| Sleeve |
| A protective area of metal or plastic along the section of
the oar that pivots in the oarlock. |
|
| Slide |
| Set of tracks on which a rowers seat can slide back and
forth, allowing the rower to use his or her legs to provide propulsive
power. |
|
| Sliding seat |
| A seat with wheels that roll along a track, allowing
rowers to use their full body on each stroke. |
|
| Slings |
| Supports to hold a boat in place when it is out of the
water. Also called racks or trestles. |
|
| Sprint |
| A short race or section of a race in which rowers must
exert near-maximal effort. Typically used to refer to a race of 1,000
meters or less or the last 500 meters of a longer race. |
|
| Square |
| The action of turning the blade of the oar perpendicular
to the water just before the catch phase of the stroke. |
|
| Starboard |
| The right side of the boat from the perspective of the
coxswain. |
|
| Stern |
| The rear of the boat. |
|
| Stern four |
| The four rowers closest to the rear of the boat. Seats
five through eight in an eight-person shell. |
|
| Stern pair |
| The two rowers closest to the rear of the boat. seats
seven and eight in an eight-person shell, for three and four in a
four-person boat. |
|
| Straight |
| A term used to indicate a boat with no coxswain, such as a
"straight four." In a straight, one of the rowers steers using a
foot-controlled rudder. |
|
| Stroke |
| One complete cycle of motion for a rower, consisting of
the catch, drive, finish, release, and recovery. The term is also used to
denote the rower closest to the coxswain. Working with the coxswain,
the stroke sets the cadence for the other rowers in the boat. |
|
| Stroke rate |
| Also called the cadence or rating, this is an indication
of the number of strokes per minute. |
|
| Sweep |
| An oar designed to be operated with two hands. Also used
to refer to the action of using such an oar. |
|
| Sweeping |
| Rowing with a two-handed oar. |
|
| Swing |
| Slang term used to refer to a crew that is in
harmony, executing their strokes in perfect synchronization and with no
wasted energy. |
|
| Swing |
| Slang term used to refer to a crew that is in
harmony, executing their strokes in perfect synchronization and with no
wasted energy. |
|
| Toe |
| The act of moving the rudder using foot-controlled cables. |
|
| Touch it |
| A coxswain's command indicating that the crew should row
using only arms and back. The command is usually given when maneuvering in
tight spaces. |
|
| Track |
| The u-shaped piece of metal on which the wheels of a seat
slide. Two tracks make up a slide. |
|
| Trestles |
| Supports to hold a boat in place when it is out of the
water. Also called racks or slings. |
|
| Unisuit |
| One-piece garment used as a racing uniform by many crews.
Usually made of a stretchy synthetic fiber. |
|
| Wash |
| water turbulence left in the wake of a moving boat. |
|
| Washing out |
| A stroke defect in which the blade is removed from the
water prematurely during the drive. |
|
| Weigh enough or way 'nuff |
| Coxswain's command indicating that the crew should stop
rowing. The phrase was initially used in the same context by 19th
Century American sailors. It is not used outside of North America |
