General Rowing Terminology

Your son caught a crab, or the bow ball was missing and they were disqualified from a race. Herewith a list of common rowing terms to help

General Rowing Terms

  1. Bow: The front section of the boat; the direction in which the boat is moving. The rower closest to the bow is also referred to as “bow.”
  2. Stern: The rear section of the boat; the direction from which the boat is moving.
  3. Port: The left side of the boat when facing forward, in the direction the boat is moving.
  4. Starboard: The right side of the boat when facing forward, in the direction the boat is moving.
  5. Shell: A racing boat, typically very narrow and long, used in the sport of rowing.
  6. Scull: A type of rowing where each rower uses two oars, one in each hand.
  7. Sweep: A type of rowing where each rower uses one oar, held with both hands.
  8. Coxswain (Cox): The person who steers the boat, calls out the race plan, and motivates the crew. The coxswain sits at the stern in most rowing shells or at the bow in a bowloader.
  9. Stroke: The rower seated closest to the stern, who sets the rhythm and pace for the crew.
  10. Bow Ball: A small, usually white, rubber ball attached to the bow of the boat to protect against damage in the event of a collision.
  11. Catch: The moment the oar blade enters the water at the beginning of the stroke.
  12. Drive: The portion of the stroke where the rower pulls on the oar to propel the boat forward.
  13. Finish: The end of the drive phase where the rower pushes down on the oar handle to extract the blade from the water.
  14. Recovery: The phase of the stroke after the finish, where the rower returns to the catch position.
  15. Feathering: Rotating the oar handle so that the blade is parallel to the water surface during the recovery.
  16. Square: The position of the oar when the blade is perpendicular to the water, used during the catch and drive.
  17. Rating: The number of strokes per minute.
  18. Power 10: A call for a set of 10 strokes at maximum effort, often used to increase boat speed quickly.
  19. Crab: A rowing error where the oar blade gets stuck in the water, often causing the rower to lose control.

Boat Components

  1. Rigger: The metal or composite framework that holds the oarlock and is attached to the side of the boat.
  2. Oarlock: A U-shaped swivel on the end of the rigger that holds the oar in place.
  3. Blade: The flat part of the oar that enters the water and provides the propulsive force.
  4. Foot Stretcher: The adjustable bracket inside the boat where the rower’s feet are secured.
  5. Slide: The metal or plastic tracks on which the seat rolls back and forth during the rowing stroke.
  6. Seat: The movable platform on which the rower sits, equipped with wheels that roll on the slide.
  7. Gunwale: The top edge of the side of the boat.
  8. Deck: The covered part of the boat at the bow and stern, usually where the coxswain or rowers’ feet are placed.
  9. Keel: The centerline of the boat’s hull, which provides stability.

Rowing Commands

  1. “Hold Water!”: A command to stop rowing and use the oars to brake the boat.
  2. “Let it Run!”: A command to stop rowing and let the boat glide on its momentum.
  3. “Back it Down!”: A command to row in reverse to maneuver the boat.
  4. “Weigh Enough!”: A command to stop rowing or stop any action.
  5. “Sit Ready”: A command for the rowers to prepare for the start of rowing.
  6. “Easy Oar”: A command to row at a reduced power or pressure.
  7. “Up/Down to Pressure”: A command to increase or decrease the effort applied to each stroke.

Racing and Training

  1. Head Race: A type of race where crews start at intervals and race against the clock over a longer distance, usually 5,000 meters.
  2. Sprint Race: A short distance race, typically 2,000 meters for most rowing events.
  3. Catch a Crab: A situation where the rower’s oar gets stuck in the water, potentially slowing or stopping the boat.
  4. Ergometer (Erg): A rowing machine used on land to simulate the rowing action for training purposes.
  5. Paddle: Rowing at a light pressure, often used during warm-ups or cool-downs.
  6. Rigging: The process of adjusting the boat and oars for optimal performance, including setting the height of the oarlocks and the pitch of the blades.
  7. Ratio: The relationship between the drive and recovery phases of the stroke. A good ratio typically means a faster recovery compared to the drive.
  8. Set: The balance of the boat, crucial for maintaining stability and maximizing speed.
  9. Swing: The feeling of perfect synchronization and rhythm among the rowers, often leading to optimal boat speed.
  10. Sprint: The final burst of speed near the end of a race.
  11. Seat Racing: A method of selecting the best rowers for a boat by having them compete against each other in different seat combinations.
  12. Buoy Line: A series of buoys marking the racing lanes on the water.
  13. Cox Box: A small electronic device used by the coxswain to amplify their voice and display stroke rate and time.
  14. Split Time: The time it takes to row 500 meters, used as a metric for pacing.
  15. Hot Seating: The practice of quickly switching rowers from one boat to another during regattas, often necessary when crews have back-to-back races.