Mercyhurst College sophomore rower Bethany Brun blogs occasionally as part of the College Connection project. Her second entry should help the novice or casual spectator understand the sport.
Have you ever sat down and thought to yourself, “Hmmm, I wonder what rowing is about?”
Chances are you haven’t even heard of the sport, let alone speculated about it, so I am going to provide an overview of the terminology and answer some frequently asked questions. Over the next few posts, these entries should hopefully prevent raised eyebrows, confused looks, and the questioning of my sanity.
Rowing Terminology and Common Phrases**
Backsplash
The water thrown towards the bow at the catch. Too little or no backsplash indicates that an oarsman is rowing his blade into the water. Too much backsplash will slow the boat down and cause a jerking feeling at the catch.
Body angle
The term for the angle of the body off perpendicular to the water. A proper body angle is approximately 15 percent at the finish. This term also applies to a position in the stroke when the body is towards the stern, but the knees are still locked down. Rowing with body angle means that you are using your back.
Bowball
A rubber ball attached to the most forward part of the bow to protect that boat and others upon impact. Bowballs are required safety equipment.
Bowman (bow seat)
The oarsman in the most forward seat in the boat
Catch
The beginning of a stroke when the blade enters the water. Opposite of the finish.
Cox-Box
Stroke rate information and amplifies sound.
Coxswain (cox-in)
The person who steers the shell and urges on the rowers during practices and in a race. A knowledgeable coxswain can also serve as a coach for the rowers and can be the difference between winning and losing a race.
Crab
A term for a situation in which the blade is not fully feathered before leaving the water, or when entering the water. This results in the blade getting stuck in the water, severely slowing the boat down and throwing off the set.
Double
A boat with two scullers and no coxswains. The symbol for a double is 2x.
Drive
The part of the stroke when the blades are in the water.
Eight
A shell with eight sweep oarsmen and one coxswain. The symbol for an eight is 8+.
Ergometer – (erg)
A rowing machine used to simulate rowing on land.
Feather
Opposite of square - a noun and a verb referring to the rotation of the blade at the finish when the blade is parallel to the surface. Feathering is the actual motion of turning the blade. Feathering in sweep boats is accomplished with the inside hand only rolling the oar handle. The outside hand has no impact upon feathering except to provide leverage. An incomplete feather will result in wash at the finish and may result in a crab. A feathered blade is parallel to the water's surface.
Finish
The end of the stroke when the blade is removed from the water. Also the end of a race
Footstretcher
The parts which attach the shoes to the boat, including the footboard, the adjustable metal bars, and the wingnuts which secure it to the boat.
Four
A shell with four sweep oarsmen. The two types of fours are: four with a coxswain (4+) and four without a coxswain (4-).
Gunwale
The edge of the hull. Often misspelled as gunnel.
Hatchet
A design of blade which has a shape similar to a hatchet. This design is believed to provide more power in certain conditions than older models, such as Spoons (symmetrical blades)
Hull
The skin of the boat which is in direct contact with the water. The hull is typically made of carbon fiber, fiberglass, wood, or a combination of these. Since the hull supports the weight of everyone on the water, the hull is rigid and fragile and should not be stepped onto when getting into or out of the boat. Any obstruction in the water can puncture the hull, cause sinkings, and make coaches highly annoyed.
Impeller
Device on the hull of a shell that is used to give speed readings
Launch
A motorboat used to carry the coach, spare parts, safety equipment and spare oarsmen.
Lunge
A sudden lean of the upper body into the rigger before the catch, rather than a desired slow lean into the rigger. A lunge will not only cause set problems, but can also cause catch timing problems.
Oar
Consists of an oar handle, a shaft, and a blade – used to power the boat.
Oarlock
The part which holds an oar in place. Oarlocks have a gate that opens to remove the oar.
Pair
A shell with two sweep oarsmen. (2-)
Port
The term for left (meaning the coxswain's left). Also, the term for a sweep oarsman whose blade and rigger are on that side. Opposite of starboard.
Port-rigged
A boat rigged with the strokeman on port side. Opposite of starboard-rigged.
Power 10
A call for rowers to do 10 of their best, most powerful strokes. A strategy used to pull ahead of a competitor.
Puddle
The result of a stroke through the water. A correct stroke should create a whirling puddle with very little wash or waves.
Quad(ruple)
A shell with four scullers in it, 4x. The full name is quadruple.
Rack
The storage place for boats when not in use.
Ratio
The relationship between the speed of the drive and the speed of the recovery, usually about 3:1
Reach
The distance an oarsman is able to extend his arm forward at the catch. Also the distance towards the bow an oar can travel at the catch.
Rigger
The metal or carbon fiber bars that extend from the hull at each seat consisting of a backstay, mainstay, and occasionally a forestay. Attached to the riggers are oarlocks, topnuts, and pins.
Rowing the blade in
To begin rowing before the blade is completely buried.
Rudder
A small part used to turn the boat. A rudder's surface area is only a few square inches, yet properly used, a rudder can handle most turns.
Rush
As a noun, the motion of arriving at the catch too early. As a verb, the act of rushing.
Scull
As a noun (called a “sculling shell” usually): A boat which has two oars for each oarsman. Also an oar used in such a boat (sculling blades). As a verb: To row in a boat which is a scull.
Set
The balance of a boat. A boat that does not dip to either side is considered balanced or set.
Shaft
The long stick that connects the oar handle and the blade.
Single
A small one-person shell in which the rower sculls.
Skeg
The fin attached to the bottom of the hull – may come off if scraped against the dock, racks, or debris
Sky
Improper hand motions (usually dropping one’s hands at the catch) that send the blade high into the air at the catch.
Square
The blade in a perpendicular position to the water.
Starboard
The term for right (meaning the coxswain’s right). Also the term for a sweep oarsman who has his blade on that side. Opposite of port.
Starboard-rigged
A shell with the strokeman's rigger on starboard.
Stern
The nautical term for the back of the boat. More precisely the farthest point on the back of the boat
Stroke
The motion of rowing, as in “take a stroke”.
Stroke (-seat)
The oarsman in the stern most position (usually nearest to the coxswain). He sets the pace to be followed by everyone.
Stroke rate
The number of strokes per minute. In a race, the average stroke rate might vary between 26 for longer races to 38 for short races. The term rate is used interchangeably with stroke rate.
Swamping
A boat filled with water due to waves, rain, or a leak.
Sweep
As an adjective, a boat in which each oarsman has only one blade, versus a scull. As a noun, a blade used in such a boat.
Track
A piece of metal to keep the wheels of a seat following a straight path. Tracks must be kept clean at all times.
Wash
Water stirred up at the finish by the boat as a whole, or by an individual oarsman with a sloppy finish
Washout/up
When an oarsman finishes his stroke by pulling the oar handle into his waist, creating a wash
**Adapted from my old club’s Web site, www.daytonboatclub.org