Curious about rowing, and how it all works? Here are all the basics to help you get started!
Rower v. coxswain
The first thing to know are the two types of people in the boat – rowers and coxswain (pronounced cox-n). Rowers are the athletes with the oars. A coxswain is the small (typically less than 110 lbs for women and 120 lbs for men for races) person who steers the boat and motivates the crew.
While a boat doesn’t move without its rowers, coxswains are also an integral part of the team. They make sure their crews are safe, go in the right direction, and use a microphone and speaker system throughout the boats to motivate and coach their crews.
Sculling vs. sweep rowing
There are two types of rowing: Sculling and Sweep.
Sculling
In sculling events each rower has two oars. The boat is called a scull. These boats seat one, two, or four rowers. On a regatta heat sheet, sculling events are marked with an “x.”
For example:
- single scull (one rower) is a 1x
- double scull (2 rowers) is a 2x
- quad (4 rowers) is a 4x
Sweeping
In sweeping events, each rower has one oar. The boat is called a sweep boat. The sweep boats are pairs (2 rowers); fours (4 rowers); and eights (eight rowers). On a regatta heat sheet, sweep boats with coxswains are marked with a “+” and sweep boats without coxswains are marked with a “-.”
For example:
- 4+ is a four (4 rowers) with a coxswain.
- 4- is a four (4 rowers) without a coxswain.
Eights will always have a cox to help steer, whereas quads and fours can be with or without a coxswain. This is referred to as a ‘straight.’ A ‘straight four’ or a ‘straight pair’ will not have a cox.
Seats in the boat
The largest (and fastest) shell is an eight. All the rowers sit backwards, with their backs facing the bow of the boat, opposite the direction the boat is headed. Each seat plays an important role with different strengths.
COXSWAIN – Voice of the boat
In the Boat, the coxswain is a vital addition to the crew.
Besides steering, the cox is also the voice in the boat, coaxing, motivating, and calming an eight-man engine.
As the cox faces forwards, in a conventional boat, strokeside (even numbers) are to the left and bowside (odd numbers) to the right.
STROKE – Human metronome
The Stroke sets the pace of the boat. It is important that the rest of the crew are able to stay with the stroke and, over a course of this length, finding a steady rhythm is vital.
SEVEN – Stroke’s second in command
The seven seat takes Stroke’s rhythm and acts as the person to follow for the blades behind his. Seven has a vital support role to play. If the Seven seat does not back-up the stroke’s commitment, or follow any change in pace, it is certain that none of the rest of the crew will.
Stroke and seven make up the Stern Pair – captain and able lieutenant.
SIX – The engine room
The middle four of the boat are the engine room, the biggest and most powerful members of the crew.
But, of the four heavies, six is the brains of the operation, making sure that the rhythm of the stern is not lost when it reaches the less subtle middle of the boat.
Often one of the tallest members of the crew, six lends length to the mix – the longer the stroke, the further the boat will travel.
FIVE – More engine room
The main demand for the middle of the boat is to provide power – as much as possible.
FOUR – Still a powerhouse
Another member of the powerhouse, four has to remember that there are three rowers behind who are a long way from the action in the stern, and must help to keep them in touch.
THREE – End of the engine room
In lesser boats, the three seat is where the least technically able oarsman sits. At race level there are no weak links, but three still has the least responsibility.
TWO – Back-up stroke
Often the seat occupied by the back-up stroke. Two seat joins the rower behind them to make up the Bow Pair who, as the first blades to catch the water at the front of the boat, must be the sharpest members of the crew at the beginning of the stroke.
BOW – Technical and balanced
Joins two in making sure that the boat is balanced correctly.
As the person at the front of the boat, Bow’s blade makes the most difference when it is placed in the water, so they must be sharp and technically correct.
How to row
When done correctly, rowing is a full-body sport. Although it may tend to look like an upper body sport, the strength of the rowing stroke actually comes from the legs.
The stroke is made up of four parts: Catch, Drive, Finish and Recovery. As the stroke begins, the rower is coiled forward on the sliding seat, with knees bent and arms outstretched. The athlete drops the oarblade vertically into the water – this is the Catch.
From there, they begin the Drive. Body positioning stays the same and all the work is done by the legs.
Once the legs are straight, the upper body begins to uncoil. This is where the arms begin their work, drawing the oarblades through the water. Continuing the drive, the rowers move their hands quickly into the body, which by this time is in a slight “layback” position, requiring strong abdominal muscles.
During the Finish, the oar handle is moved down, drawing the oarblade out of the water. At the same time, the rower “feathers” the oar – turning the oar handle – so that the oarblade changes from a vertical position to a horizontal one.
The oar remains out of the water as the rower begins the Recovery, moving the hands away from the body and past the knees, keeping the legs straight until the hands have passed. The body follows the hands and the sliding seat moves forward, until, knees bent, the rower is ready for the next catch.
Timing
Rowing is all about timing – both yours and the other people in the boat. It takes practice to find the right rhythm and pace. But it truly is a sport for anyone, and we would love to teach you! If you’re ready to learn, check out our Learn to Row sessions or reach out via our Contact page. We can’t wait to meet you!