Orientation of the Boat
Bow - The front of the boat, which is behind the rower while rowing. Look for the Bow Ball for easy identification.
Stern - The back of the boat, which is in front of the rower while rowing. Look for the Skeg and Rudder for easy identification.
Port - The left side of the boat when looking towards the bow. For rowers, this will be the right side of the boat while sitting in the seat, and is indicated by the color RED.
Starboard - The right side of the boat when looking towards the bow. For rowers, this will be the left side of the boar while sitting in the seat, and is indicated by the color GREEN.
Parts of a Boat
General:
Bow Ball - The protective rubber ball on the bow of the boat.
Hull/Shell - The outer skin of the boat. Modern rowing shells are typically made of fiberglass or carbon fiber, with a honeycomb core.
Skeg - The fixed blade that extends downwards from the stern of the boat to provide some amount of stability and to keep the boat headed straight.
Rudder - The small control surface in the stern of the boat, next to or encompassed by the skeg, that the coxswain uses to make minor course corrections while the boat is moving.
From the rower's seat:
Gunwales - The upper edge of the side of the boat.
Riggers - The assembly of tubes, tightly bolted to the side of the shell, that hold the oarlocks at the appropriate distance from the gunwales.
Seat - The seats in a rowing boat have wheels that slide along rails to allow the rower to use the full extension of their body during the stroke.
Foot Stretchers - The flat plate, adjustment rails, and shoes or straps that secure the rowers feet to the boat.
Oar Lock - The gate the holds the oar and allows it to swing freely through the stroke.
Deck - The only place on the boat that the rower is allowed step. A reinforced, flat platform below the seat, typically with a strip of traction tape on top.
Rails or Tracks - The guiding hardware that the seat travels along.
Parts of an Oar:
Handle - The grip of the oar. The handle can be made of rubber, cork, felt, or wood.
Shaft - The carbon fiber tube that makes up the length of the oar. The shaft has some amount of spring, which allows it to flex during the stroke and provide additional mechanical advantage as it springs back into place.
Blade - The end of the oar that scoops the water. Designed to float at a very specific depth.
Collar - The blue ring that presses against the oar lock and keeps the oar in the proper position during the stroke.
Squared - The orientation of the oar where the blade is perpendicular to the water, so that a rower may take a stroke.
Feathered - The orientation of the oar where the blade is parallel to the water. The blade is in this position when the rower is 'sitting easy', or when the rower is on the recovery, traveling back to the catch to take the next stroke.
Buried - A coxswain reference position meaning to place the oar in the water in preparation for a stroke.
Rowing Equipment:
Slings - Fabric stretched over a set of steel tubes that are used to support the boat during maintenance, washing, storage, etc. The slings can fold down for ease of transport and storage.
Ergometers - "Rowing Machines" used for land training and fitness. The simulated oar handle is connected to a chain that spins a flywheel fan.
Cox Box - The amplifier that the coxswain plugs their mic into in order to speak over the speakers in the boat. Cox boxes also tell valuable information to the coxswain, such as stroke rate, stroke count, distance or time rowed, etc.
More Terms:
Heading - The direction the boat is currently traveling in.
Coxswain - The person who steers the boat. Usually smaller in stature, they are the voice of the boat, and in charge of the safety and direction of their crew.
Catching a Crab - When the oar doesn't leave the water in time, or enters the water at an angle, it is possible for the oar to get stuck in the water with the rower pinned under the handle. This is called "Catching a Crab".
Guts Up - When placing a boat into slings, this phrase means that the seats and footstretchers are pointed up.
Coxswain Calls
Weigh Enough - To stop what you're doing"
Hold Water - To stick your blade in the water at a 90 degree angle in order to stop the boat
Check - Another word for "Hold Water". Also, a word used to describe the jerking motion caused by pulling yourself to the footstretchers, rather than letting the boat glide under you.
Hands On - Place your hands on the boat in preparation to lift the boat.
Up to Waist - Lift the boat to waist height
Up to Shoulders - Lift the boat to shoulder height
Up and Overhead - Lift the boat overhead with your arms locked up at their full extension.
Walk it Foreword - Begin walking forward while carrying the boat
Toe to the Edge - Right before putting the boat in the water while standing on the dock, while the boat is overhead, shuffle to the side of the dock until your toe is on the very edge of the dock
Roll to Water - SLOWLY begin rolling the boat from "up and overhead" to the water, making sure to reach out far enough that the riggers and skeg don't impact the dock.
Out and In - A reminder that coxswains sometimes give, or sometimes use as a call in place of "Roll to Water", which indicates that the rowers should reach "out" far enough to avoid hitting the riggers and skeg on the dock while they place the boat "in" the water.
Walk it Down - While sitting in the boat, place your hands on the dock and push the boat down the dock.
Unstrap - Your coxswain will give a command to indicate that the boat has arrived safely back on the dock in a position that the coxswain is happy with, and that you now have permission to begin unstrapping your feet.
One foot up... And out - Place one foot on the dock in preparation for exiting the boat. When the coxswain sees that each rower has a foot on the dock, they'll call for the entire crew to leave the boat at once. Once rowers are out of the boat and oars start to be pulled in, it is much more likely to flip the boat if there are any rowers left alone sitting in the boat, so this command ensures that all rowers get out of the boat together safely.
Show splits - After the boat is out of the water on the dock, and locked up and overhead, the coxswain will call "Show Splits" so that the crew may quickly coordinate which gunnel they intend to go to when the coxswain calls "Down to Shoulders". Rowers will lean their head to the left or the right, opposite of the rower in front of them, so that the whole boat is staggered when dropping down to shoulders.
Down to Shoulders - Following "show splits", drop the boat to the shoulder that you indicated. At this time, you will be holding only one gunnel on only one shoulder. Be careful while bringing the boat down that you are not caught within a rigger.
Down to Waist - Lower the boat to waist height
Roll to Slings - Similar to rolling to water, but with the intent to place the boat "guts up" in slings.
Down to an Inch - When lowering a boat onto racks or blocks, this term means to lower the boat nearly to the block, but the coxswain will still need to verify the final position before calling the boat "Down". Be prepared to slide the boat several inches one way or another while in this final position.
Rowing Positions and Groups
Seat Numbers - Each rower in the boat is assigned a number corresponding with the seat they are rowing. Bow seat is #1, with each next seat incrementing until the Stroke seat.
Pairs - Rowers are often spoken of in pairs, especially in sweep rowing when one rower is only rowing on one side of the boat. The coxswain may ask the bow pair to row the boat to the dock or under a bridge, or may indicate that it's 3/4 pair's turn for a break.
Fours - When rowing in eights, it's common to practice or warm up by 4's. The most typical breakdown would be Bow four, or Stern four.
Six's - When rowing in eights, if the crew isn't quite ready for all eight oars of the water yet, the coxswain may have the boat row by 6's, with only one pair sitting out and setting the boat.
All Eight - Where all eight rowers are rowing at the same time, and no pairs are sitting out and setting the boat. This is harder than it looks.
At the Finish - The rowing position that means at the end of the drive, when the legs are down, back is 10-15 degrees laid back, and the arms are in. At the finish, the blades are still in the water.
At the Release - Identical to the finish, but starting with the blades out of the water.
Squared and Buried - To have the blade perpendicular to the water and floating with just the top edge of the blade showing.
At the Catch - The rowing position that means at the end of the recovery, just before the drive, where the blade would normally catch the water. That is, legs fully compressed, shins vertical, shoulders down and relaxed, bending from the hips, back straight, reaching out with your arms as far as they will go with the blade buried in the water.
Hands Away - The position of the stroke during the recovery where the legs are down, the bodies are still in the 10-15 degree layback position, but the arms are held away from the body.
Bodies Over - The position of the stroke during the recovery where the legs are down, the bodies have swung over at the hips, and the arms are reaching out.
Half-Slides - A position sometimes referred to during drills or start sequences, that means to not come all the way to shins vertical, but instead to stop halfway up the slide.
Drive - The power segment of the stroke, when the rower is pulling on the handle to impart force to the water.
Recovery - The resetting portion of the stroke, when the rower is returning to the catch to begin the next drive.
Sit Easy - A specific position used when not rowing to limit the movement of the rower, as every small movement in the boat can cause a disruption and tip the boat while others are rowing.
Things a Coxswain might say about your form
Skying - When the blade comes up into the "sky" at the end of the stroke, caused by the hands falling low while reaching at the very end of the recovery.
Digging - When the blade is being forced under the water during the drive, rather than the rower letting the blade float at the surface while pulling the blade only horizontally.
Missing Water - Any segment of the drive taken with the blade out of the water. At the beginning of the drive, this is caused by not having the blade fully buried before beginning the stroke. At the end of the drive, this is from "washing out".
Washing Out - Missing water at the end of the stroke by allowing your blade to pop free of the water prior to the end of the drive. Typically caused by rowing into your lap, rather than crisply tapping out at the end of the stroke.
Backsplash - A technique used to limit the amount of missed water at the beginning of the stroke. Placing the blade in the water prior to the drive beginning causes a small amount of splash backwards, but ensures good connection at the start of the drive.
Ratio - The comparison of time between the drive and the recovery. At low stroke rates, the ratio should be heavily weighted to the recovery, with very little time spent on the drive and considerably longer time spent returning to the catch.
Stroke Rate - The quantity of strokes taken each minute.
Rushing/Slow - The rest of the boat being out of sync with the stroke seat, who is setting the pace.
Set - To cause the boat to return to level. This may be by correcting handle heights, sitting tall, pulling evenly, or by those sitting out actively managing the tilt of the boat.
Check - The jarring motion caused by rowers pulling themselves back to the footstretchers on the recovery, usually as a result of rushing to the catch, rather than letting the boat glide under them with good ratio.
Bow - The front of the boat, which is behind the rower while rowing. Look for the Bow Ball for easy identification.
Stern - The back of the boat, which is in front of the rower while rowing. Look for the Skeg and Rudder for easy identification.
Port - The left side of the boat when looking towards the bow. For rowers, this will be the right side of the boat while sitting in the seat, and is indicated by the color RED.
Starboard - The right side of the boat when looking towards the bow. For rowers, this will be the left side of the boar while sitting in the seat, and is indicated by the color GREEN.
Parts of a Boat
General:
Bow Ball - The protective rubber ball on the bow of the boat.
Hull/Shell - The outer skin of the boat. Modern rowing shells are typically made of fiberglass or carbon fiber, with a honeycomb core.
Skeg - The fixed blade that extends downwards from the stern of the boat to provide some amount of stability and to keep the boat headed straight.
Rudder - The small control surface in the stern of the boat, next to or encompassed by the skeg, that the coxswain uses to make minor course corrections while the boat is moving.
From the rower's seat:
Gunwales - The upper edge of the side of the boat.
Riggers - The assembly of tubes, tightly bolted to the side of the shell, that hold the oarlocks at the appropriate distance from the gunwales.
Seat - The seats in a rowing boat have wheels that slide along rails to allow the rower to use the full extension of their body during the stroke.
Foot Stretchers - The flat plate, adjustment rails, and shoes or straps that secure the rowers feet to the boat.
Oar Lock - The gate the holds the oar and allows it to swing freely through the stroke.
Deck - The only place on the boat that the rower is allowed step. A reinforced, flat platform below the seat, typically with a strip of traction tape on top.
Rails or Tracks - The guiding hardware that the seat travels along.
Parts of an Oar:
Handle - The grip of the oar. The handle can be made of rubber, cork, felt, or wood.
Shaft - The carbon fiber tube that makes up the length of the oar. The shaft has some amount of spring, which allows it to flex during the stroke and provide additional mechanical advantage as it springs back into place.
Blade - The end of the oar that scoops the water. Designed to float at a very specific depth.
Collar - The blue ring that presses against the oar lock and keeps the oar in the proper position during the stroke.
Squared - The orientation of the oar where the blade is perpendicular to the water, so that a rower may take a stroke.
Feathered - The orientation of the oar where the blade is parallel to the water. The blade is in this position when the rower is 'sitting easy', or when the rower is on the recovery, traveling back to the catch to take the next stroke.
Buried - A coxswain reference position meaning to place the oar in the water in preparation for a stroke.
Rowing Equipment:
Slings - Fabric stretched over a set of steel tubes that are used to support the boat during maintenance, washing, storage, etc. The slings can fold down for ease of transport and storage.
Ergometers - "Rowing Machines" used for land training and fitness. The simulated oar handle is connected to a chain that spins a flywheel fan.
Cox Box - The amplifier that the coxswain plugs their mic into in order to speak over the speakers in the boat. Cox boxes also tell valuable information to the coxswain, such as stroke rate, stroke count, distance or time rowed, etc.
More Terms:
Heading - The direction the boat is currently traveling in.
Coxswain - The person who steers the boat. Usually smaller in stature, they are the voice of the boat, and in charge of the safety and direction of their crew.
Catching a Crab - When the oar doesn't leave the water in time, or enters the water at an angle, it is possible for the oar to get stuck in the water with the rower pinned under the handle. This is called "Catching a Crab".
Guts Up - When placing a boat into slings, this phrase means that the seats and footstretchers are pointed up.
Coxswain Calls
Weigh Enough - To stop what you're doing"
Hold Water - To stick your blade in the water at a 90 degree angle in order to stop the boat
Check - Another word for "Hold Water". Also, a word used to describe the jerking motion caused by pulling yourself to the footstretchers, rather than letting the boat glide under you.
Hands On - Place your hands on the boat in preparation to lift the boat.
Up to Waist - Lift the boat to waist height
Up to Shoulders - Lift the boat to shoulder height
Up and Overhead - Lift the boat overhead with your arms locked up at their full extension.
Walk it Foreword - Begin walking forward while carrying the boat
Toe to the Edge - Right before putting the boat in the water while standing on the dock, while the boat is overhead, shuffle to the side of the dock until your toe is on the very edge of the dock
Roll to Water - SLOWLY begin rolling the boat from "up and overhead" to the water, making sure to reach out far enough that the riggers and skeg don't impact the dock.
Out and In - A reminder that coxswains sometimes give, or sometimes use as a call in place of "Roll to Water", which indicates that the rowers should reach "out" far enough to avoid hitting the riggers and skeg on the dock while they place the boat "in" the water.
Walk it Down - While sitting in the boat, place your hands on the dock and push the boat down the dock.
Unstrap - Your coxswain will give a command to indicate that the boat has arrived safely back on the dock in a position that the coxswain is happy with, and that you now have permission to begin unstrapping your feet.
One foot up... And out - Place one foot on the dock in preparation for exiting the boat. When the coxswain sees that each rower has a foot on the dock, they'll call for the entire crew to leave the boat at once. Once rowers are out of the boat and oars start to be pulled in, it is much more likely to flip the boat if there are any rowers left alone sitting in the boat, so this command ensures that all rowers get out of the boat together safely.
Show splits - After the boat is out of the water on the dock, and locked up and overhead, the coxswain will call "Show Splits" so that the crew may quickly coordinate which gunnel they intend to go to when the coxswain calls "Down to Shoulders". Rowers will lean their head to the left or the right, opposite of the rower in front of them, so that the whole boat is staggered when dropping down to shoulders.
Down to Shoulders - Following "show splits", drop the boat to the shoulder that you indicated. At this time, you will be holding only one gunnel on only one shoulder. Be careful while bringing the boat down that you are not caught within a rigger.
Down to Waist - Lower the boat to waist height
Roll to Slings - Similar to rolling to water, but with the intent to place the boat "guts up" in slings.
Down to an Inch - When lowering a boat onto racks or blocks, this term means to lower the boat nearly to the block, but the coxswain will still need to verify the final position before calling the boat "Down". Be prepared to slide the boat several inches one way or another while in this final position.
Rowing Positions and Groups
Seat Numbers - Each rower in the boat is assigned a number corresponding with the seat they are rowing. Bow seat is #1, with each next seat incrementing until the Stroke seat.
Pairs - Rowers are often spoken of in pairs, especially in sweep rowing when one rower is only rowing on one side of the boat. The coxswain may ask the bow pair to row the boat to the dock or under a bridge, or may indicate that it's 3/4 pair's turn for a break.
Fours - When rowing in eights, it's common to practice or warm up by 4's. The most typical breakdown would be Bow four, or Stern four.
Six's - When rowing in eights, if the crew isn't quite ready for all eight oars of the water yet, the coxswain may have the boat row by 6's, with only one pair sitting out and setting the boat.
All Eight - Where all eight rowers are rowing at the same time, and no pairs are sitting out and setting the boat. This is harder than it looks.
At the Finish - The rowing position that means at the end of the drive, when the legs are down, back is 10-15 degrees laid back, and the arms are in. At the finish, the blades are still in the water.
At the Release - Identical to the finish, but starting with the blades out of the water.
Squared and Buried - To have the blade perpendicular to the water and floating with just the top edge of the blade showing.
At the Catch - The rowing position that means at the end of the recovery, just before the drive, where the blade would normally catch the water. That is, legs fully compressed, shins vertical, shoulders down and relaxed, bending from the hips, back straight, reaching out with your arms as far as they will go with the blade buried in the water.
Hands Away - The position of the stroke during the recovery where the legs are down, the bodies are still in the 10-15 degree layback position, but the arms are held away from the body.
Bodies Over - The position of the stroke during the recovery where the legs are down, the bodies have swung over at the hips, and the arms are reaching out.
Half-Slides - A position sometimes referred to during drills or start sequences, that means to not come all the way to shins vertical, but instead to stop halfway up the slide.
Drive - The power segment of the stroke, when the rower is pulling on the handle to impart force to the water.
Recovery - The resetting portion of the stroke, when the rower is returning to the catch to begin the next drive.
Sit Easy - A specific position used when not rowing to limit the movement of the rower, as every small movement in the boat can cause a disruption and tip the boat while others are rowing.
Things a Coxswain might say about your form
Skying - When the blade comes up into the "sky" at the end of the stroke, caused by the hands falling low while reaching at the very end of the recovery.
Digging - When the blade is being forced under the water during the drive, rather than the rower letting the blade float at the surface while pulling the blade only horizontally.
Missing Water - Any segment of the drive taken with the blade out of the water. At the beginning of the drive, this is caused by not having the blade fully buried before beginning the stroke. At the end of the drive, this is from "washing out".
Washing Out - Missing water at the end of the stroke by allowing your blade to pop free of the water prior to the end of the drive. Typically caused by rowing into your lap, rather than crisply tapping out at the end of the stroke.
Backsplash - A technique used to limit the amount of missed water at the beginning of the stroke. Placing the blade in the water prior to the drive beginning causes a small amount of splash backwards, but ensures good connection at the start of the drive.
Ratio - The comparison of time between the drive and the recovery. At low stroke rates, the ratio should be heavily weighted to the recovery, with very little time spent on the drive and considerably longer time spent returning to the catch.
Stroke Rate - The quantity of strokes taken each minute.
Rushing/Slow - The rest of the boat being out of sync with the stroke seat, who is setting the pace.
Set - To cause the boat to return to level. This may be by correcting handle heights, sitting tall, pulling evenly, or by those sitting out actively managing the tilt of the boat.
Check - The jarring motion caused by rowers pulling themselves back to the footstretchers on the recovery, usually as a result of rushing to the catch, rather than letting the boat glide under them with good ratio.