An Introduction to Rowing (10 page)
Read An Introduction to Rowing Online
Authors: HL Fourie
The coxswain guides the crew as they carry the boat upside down to the dock. Before the boat is placed into the water the coxswain checks that the skeg is intact and the rudder is able to turn freely. The coxswain then calls "Roll/swing to water on two", "One, two", "Roll/swing", and the crew rolls the boat over to waist height, with each rower holding the starboard and port gunwales in each hand. On the command "Lower it in" the crew lowers the boat gently into the water. The coxswain ensures that the skeg and rudder are clear of dock. Once in the water, the coxswain puts the coxbox into the cockpit and holds a rigger while the crew get their oars.
The order in which the rowers and coxswain get into the boat varies by crew. For some crews it is coxswain first, then rowers, while for other crews it is rowers first and coxswain last. Once in the boat, the coxswain connects the coxbox to the loudspeaker cable and the head microphone connector, puts on the head microphone, turns on the coxbox and checks the audio over the loudspeakers. The coxswain now calls "Number off when ready" and each crew must call their seat number when ready. After the stroke seat has called, the coxswain should check that the direction of travel is clear and then call "Stroke/bow side push off".
On approaching the dock the boat should be lined up so that the port or starboard side of the boat will be positioned adjacent to the dock. Strokes by the stern pair will be sufficient to slowly move the boat towards the dock. When the bow reaches the dock the coxswain can call "Lean away", so the the crew leans away from the dock so that the oars and riggers can pass over the dock itself.
On return to the dock the coxswain leaves the boat first, followed by rowers with oars on the dock side and finally the rowers on the water side. When all the oars have been removed from the boat, it can be lifted from the water. To do so, the coxswain calls "Hands on", "Get ready to lift", "Lift and overhead".
The coxswain steers the boat and must know the intended course and direction of the boat and make steering adjustments as needed. Before a race the coxswain must become familiar with the course. The coxswain must get a copy of the course map and study it for location of the start and finish lines, stake boats and docks, the waiting area, the correct boat traffic direction, as well as any buoys, bridges, landmarks, currents, and other potential hazards. Ask a race official if anything is not clear.
Here is a typical course map.
Figure 48:
Course Map
Correct steering in head races is important since these are normally on long winding riverine courses. The coxswain must steer a line that will minimize the time but also avoid any buoys and other riverside obstacles. The coxswain should take note of any landmarks when rowing to the starting line.
The coxswain should be aware of wind conditions. The coxswain will need to make small steering adjustments to counter a cross wind during a race. In the case of a cross wind a lane assignment that is on the lee side of other boats would have an advantage.
If the starting official asks the coxswain if the crew is ready, the cox should raise his hand briefly and have the crew sit ready to row.
At the end of the race the coxswain must make sure that the crew does not stop rowing until the boat has crossed the finished line.
Figure 49:
Cox Box
A cox box provides the coxswain three primary functions:
- A stroke rate monitor. This lets the cox monitor the stroke throughout the race.
- An elapsed time counter. This used to measure elapsed time from the start of a race and also during training sessions.
- An electronic amplifier to broadcast commands to the rowers via speakers located throughout the shell. The coxswain has a head-mounted microphone which is plugged into the cox box. This ensures that each rower in an eight can clearly hear the coxswain's commands. Some cox boxes also have wireless capability so that the coach can also speak to the crew.
A cox box is usually used in eights and fours. The coxbox is connected to two or three loudspeakers located throughout the shell as shown below. The cylindrical bracket for the cox box (shown in Figure 50) is mounted in the coxswain's cockpit. The coxbox is inserted into the bracket and the connectors to the loudspeakers and the coxswain's head microphone must be plugged into it before use.
Figure 50:
Speaker mounted in the cockpit
The coxswain should verify the coxbox is charged before using it and when returning it make sure that it is plugged in so it will be charged before the next person uses it. Always carry the coxbox by its strap and never carry it by the microphone or charger cord that plugs into it.
The coxswain uses commands to direct and manage crew activities both on and off the water. These include carrying the boat, rigging the boat, putting the boat into the water, race management and performing exercises and drills. Commands are not suggestions and the crew is expected to perform these commands when called by the coxswain. The commands given below are typical, individual crews may have other similar commands.
When giving commands it is important that they are clear, concise, confident and audible. The coxswain should be a good communicator saying just enough for the command to be easily understood. The crew may be in the middle of an activity like a power 10, lifting a boat, so each rower must able to immediately able to understand exactly what is required. Also the coxswain should vary the tone of his voice to keep the rowers concentrating and avoid monotone. Typically the commands should state the following items clearly:
- Instructions of what must be done: hands on, power 10, pressure, amount of slide, square/feather blades, etc.
- To whom is command directed: full crew, bow side, stroke side, bow four, stern pair, stern six, mid four, end pairs, etc.
- When to do it: either after a count until execution, or on the "Next stroke" at the catch.
- Execute the actual command with "Go".
To make sure that all crew members are present and ready to perform an operation such lifting a boat, the coxswain should a roll-call count down. The coxswain calls "Count down/number off from bow when ready" and each crew member must call their seat number when ready.
The timing of commands is important, so that the crew has sufficient time assimilate the command before acting on it. The coxswain should say "Go" at the release if the change to be made during the drive phase. The coxswain should say "Go" at the catch if the change to be made during the recovery phase.
Here are some examples of commands:
"Hands on", "One, two", "Lift"
"Power 10 in two", "One, two", "Go"
"Add stern pair in two", "One, two", "Stern pair in"
"Full pressure", Next stroke" "Go"
"Roll to water in two", "One, two", "Go"
The coxswain should be consistent in the timing of the commands so that the crew gets used to when the command is to be performed. When the coxswain calls out strokes it should be done at the catch, the instant the stroke's blade enters the water.
The coxswain uses these commands to manage the crew out of the water.
"Hands on". The rowers are to grab the gunwales of the boat in preparation to lift it overhead.
"Lift and bring it out" The rowers are to lift the boat and bring it out of the rack.
"Up and overhead". Together the rowers lift the shell overhead.
"Split to shoulder". The rowers take alternate sides of the shell and lower it to their shoulders before walking the shell to the water, or back to the boathouse.
Here are some commands that can be used when on the water.
"Hold water". Square the oars in the water to stop the boat immediately.
"Weight enough" or "Easy". The crew stops whatever the current activity is.
"Let it run (glide)". The crew stops rowing at the release and lets the boat glide through the water and coast to a stop.
"Port (starboard) power up". The port or starboard rowers are to apply more power to their drives.
"Full pressure". The rowers are to apply maximum power during the drive.
"Light pressure". The rowers are to apply minimum power during the drive.
"Half pressure". The rowers are to apply medium power during the drive.
"Even pressure". The rowers are to apply equal power on both starboard and port sides.
"Add bow pair in x". The bow pair starts row in x strokes.
"Back it down". The rowers start backing strokes.
"7, back it down". The rower at seat 7 starts backing strokes.
"Bow, take a stroke". The bow rower takes a single stroke.
"Stern pair back x". The stern pair backs x strokes to turn the shell.
"Stern four back x". The stern four backs x strokes to turn the shell.
"Stern six back x". The stern six backs x strokes to turn the shell.
"Slow the slide" or "Adjust the ratio". To correct rushing the slide on the recovery.
"Port (starboard) to hold, starboard (port) to row. Ready to row. Row." To turn the boat.
In competitive rowing there are three different types of races: side-by-side sprints, head races and Bumps races. There are also different categories of race by type of boat and ability. For high school rowers these categories are:
- Junior-varsity boys
- Junior-varsity girls
- Varsity boys
- Varsity girls
For college and club rowers these categories are:
- Novice women
- Novice men
- Women
- Men
In a side by side sprint race all the boats start at the same time from a stationary position and race in separate lanes to the finish line. The winner is the boat that crosses the finish line first. The standard distance for these races is 2 kilometers or 1.5 kilometers for U.S. high school races. These races are typically held in the spring or summer. In this type of racing the term "boat length" is used to indicate how far ahead a boat is relative to another boat. The term "seat ahead" is used if the seat number N+1 of one boat is level with seat N of the other boat. When a boat is more than one length ahead it is referred to as open-water.
At the start of a sprint race all the boats line up side by side in their assigned lanes. The stern of each boat may be held by an official on a stake boat or a dock immediately behind the boat until the moment the race starts. If there is no starting dock, the starting official will give commands to the boats in the race to get them aligned.
A head race is a timed race where the crews start at intervals of 10 to 20 seconds in order to avoid collisions and chase each other along the course. These races are typically on a river course over distances of between three and five miles. Boats begin with a moving start. The winner is the boat with the fastest time. The coxswain should steer the boat on a path that will minimize the time but also avoid any buoys and other riverside obstacles. Boats may be overtaken and the overtaken boat should steer out of the way and allow the overtaking boat to pass.
- Head of the River Race over 4.25 miles on the river Thames in London.
- Head of the Charles race over 3.20 miles on the Charles River in Boston.
- Head of the Yarra race over 8.6 km on the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia.
- Head of the Hooch over 5 km on the Tennessee River Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- Princeton Chase over 3 miles on Lake Carnegie, Princeton, New Jersey.
- Head of the Trent on the Trent-Severn Waterway in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
- Head of the Rideau in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Head of the Lake over 5 km through the Montlake Cut in Seattle, Washington.
- The Fremont 4-Miler in Seattle, Washington.
- Head of the Ohio over 3 miles on the Ohio river in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Head of the Schuylkill over 3 miles in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Head of the Fish in Saratoga Springs, New York.
- Ringvaart Regatta over 100 km on the Ringvaart, a circular canal, in the Netherlands.
A Bumps race is a series of races over several days. In each race a number of boats start at fixed intervals (about one and a half boat lengths) along a river and each crew attempts to catch and "bump" the boat in front and not be caught by the boat behind. Actual physical contact between the two boats is avoided and a "bump" is called when the bow ball of the chasing boat passes the coxswain of the chased boat.
The two crews involved in any bump then stop racing and pull into the bank to allow the rest of the boats to carry on. There are variations on this rule where the bumping crew pulls over but the bumped crew must continue racing over the entire course and can be bumped by more than one crew per day. A bumped crew starts the next race behind any of the boats that caught it. Bumps racing is typically done on a long, narrow stretch of river. Each year Cambridge University holds the Lent Bumps and May Bumps on the river Cam. The Town Bumps are held annually on the Isis river at Oxford in May.
There is a standard way of naming the types of races. All races are named by an 'M' or 'W' for Men or Women followed by the number of rowers in the boat and then either a '+' or '-' to indicate a coxed or coxless sweep boat, or a 'x' to indicate a scull, For example: W8+ is a women's eight, M4- is a men's coxless four, M2x is a men's pair.
To denote a Lightweight race, the race name is prefixed with an 'L'. To denote a Junior (under 19) race the race name is prefixed with a 'J'. For example, LM8+ is a lightweight men's eight, JW8+ is a junior women's eight.
Rowing has been an event in the Olympics since the 1900 Summer Olympics. Women's events were introduced at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Lightweight rowing events were introduced to the games in 1996. The current Olympics have the following 14 events, all of them over a 2000 m side-by-side course of six lanes:
Men: Single Sculls, Double sculls, Quad sculls, Coxless pair, Coxless four, Eight
Lightweight Men: Double Sculls, Coxless Four
Women: Single Sculls, Double Sculls, Quad Sculls, Coxless Pair, Eight
Lightweight Women: Double Sculls
Most rowing competitions (regattas) use repechage. Repechage is double elimination system in which each crew has a second chance to advance to the finals. It is an alternative to seeding. Usually only the first one or two boats in a heat will qualify automatically for the next round, and all of the other boats must race again in a second special heat known as the repechage to qualify. Competitors generally prefer double elimination because they get a second chance if they have been eliminated in a qualifying round for uncharacteristically poor performance.
A sprint race can be broken down into a sequence of stages.
- Racing start. This is a sequence of short strokes followed by a Power 10 at about 40 SPM to bring the boat up to speed as quickly as possible.
- Distance phase. The crew now settle to a steady cadence at about 32 SPM.
- Final sprint to the finishing line. The final sprint is fast and the rowers must give everything that they have and push themselves to their limits. Technique is not as important on the sprint. All that matters is getting over the line first.
During the race, the coxswain should keep the crew informed of the distance to the finish.
For a sprint race the starting official will call the following commands:
- "Rowers ready". The rowers move their seats to the catch position and put their squared blades into the water.
- "Attention". Wait for the next command to start rowing.
- "Row". The rowers start their first stroke.
The first strokes of a sprint race are the hardest because of the effort required to overcome the inertia of the boat and it usually takes at least three to four full strokes to get to race pace. It is more efficient to do a number of shorter, faster strokes that use only part of the slide range at the beginning of a race. The shorter strokes are named by the fraction of the distance the seat has travelled up the slide from the release position.
The 1/2-slide position is when the slide is at the halfway point in its range of travel. This is when the rower's knees are bent at a 90 degree angle. The 3/4-slide position is when the slide is 3/4 of the way from its stern-most position at the release. The legs are compressed to the point where the heels are almost off the footstretcher.
There are several commonly used stroke sequences used for racing starts. The first stroke starts at the short stroke position.
3/4 - 1/2 - 3/4 - 3/4 - Full
3/4 - 1/2 - 1/2 - 3/4 - Full
3/4 - 1/2 - 3/4 - Full
1/2 - 1/2 - 3/4 - Full
Better power can be gained from the set of shorter strokes than from full strokes. These shorter strokes utilize the more powerful muscle groups in the legs and back to achieve a more rapid start. The sequence of short strokes is followed by a Power 10/20 at about 40 SPM. Next the crew should establish a steady cadence at about 30 SPM for the distance phase of the race.
A rowing competition is called a regatta. Many boat racing regattas are held world-wide every year. These include regattas at every level: between school, club, university and national crews. Here is a sample of the more well-known:
The Doggett's Coat and Badge Race is the oldest single sculling race in the world. It has been raced since 1715 on the Thames from London Bridge to Cadogan Pier, Chelsea over a distance of four miles and five furlongs. Today it is raced in late July in single sculls. The prize is a traditional Watermen's red coat with a silver badge showing the horse of the House of Hanover and the word "Liberty".
See http://www.doggettsrace.org.uk/
The Boat Race, raced annually by the rowing crews from Oxford and Cambridge University is one of the oldest sporting events in the world. The first race took place in 1829 at Henley on Thames. Since 1835 the race has been held in London. The current course is over 4.2 miles (6.8 km) on the tideway portion of the the Thames from Putney Bridge to Chiswick Bridge at Mortlake. Although the course is upstream, the race is timed to start with the incoming tide to ensure that the crews have the fastest possible current. Cambridge has won 81 times, Oxford 77 times and there has been one dead heat.
See http://theboatrace.org/
The Head of the River Race is held annually on the River Thames in London from Mortlake to Putney over 4.25 miles. This race is held on the ebb tide. This is a head race open to men's eights with over 400 competing crews. The race was started in 1925 by the rowing coach Steve Fairbairn.
See http://www.horr.co.uk/
Henley Royal Regatta, first held in 1839, is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames. The regatta lasts for five days over the first weekend in July. The races are head-to-head knock out competitions in which two boats compete over a course of 1 mile, 550 yards. This is 112 meters longer than the standard international competition distance of 2000 meters. Heats are held on the first four days with the finals on the last day. This regatta attracts crews from all over the world.
See http://www.hrr.co.uk/
Figure 51:
Henley Regatta Poster 1839
The British Universities and College Sports rowing regatta, held in Nottingham, Great Britain is the largest regatta in Europe with over 7000 crews competing. This is a 2000 meter side by side sprint regatta.
The Great Race is held on the Waikato River over a 3.84 km upstream course from Ann St. Reserve to Ferry Bank Park in Hamilton, New Zealand. The race is between the men's eights from the University of Waikato and well known university crews from outside New Zealand. In recent years the Melbourne, Cambridge, Oxford and Harvard universities have been competitors.
See http://www.thegreatrace.co.nz/
The Head of the Charles is held annually on the last weekend in October on the Charles river that separates Boston and Cambridge. It is a head race over 3.2 miles from the Charles river basin to the Eliot bridge. It is the largest two-day regatta in the world with over 9000 athletes competing.
See http://hocr.org/
The Dad Vail Regatta has been in existance since 1934. Today it is the largest regular intercollegiate rowing regatta in the U.S. and is held annually on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The regatta is named for "Dad" Vail who coached at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for many years. Over a hundred colleges from the United States and Canada compete.
The Yale-Harvard Boat Race has been held annually on the Thames River, New London, Connecticut since 1859.The race, which was first raced in 1852, is America's oldest collegiate athletic competition. Since 1876 it has been raced over 4 miles. Currently there are three events on race day: the 2 mile freshmen race, the 3 mile junior varsity race and the 4 mile varsity race. To date Harvard has had 93 wins and Yale 54 wins.
The Intercollegiate Rowing Association holds the IRA Championship Regatta, which is considered to be the United States collegiate national championship of rowing. It is held on the Cooper River in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
The Eastern Sprints is the annual rowing championship for the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC) and have been held since 1946. The race is held on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Massachusetts in May. These are 2000 m races. Teams include the Ivy League universities as well as Georgetown University, Syracuse University, U.S. Naval Academy, MIT, BU, Rutgers, Northeastern, Wisconsin, and George Washington University.