Rowing - dinghy

Rowing in a small boat is the first practical seamanship skill to learn. Small boats are not as stable as big boats and you must learn how to get in and out of a boat properly.

Place the spurs, sometimes called crutches in their sockets and then place the oar looms in the spurs. There is usually a piece of leather or some plastic to protect the oar from wear in the spur.

Hold the oars by the grip, keeping them level above the surface of the water.

Catch Then lean your body forward and stretch your arms in front of you and catch the water with the blades of both oars.

Pull Lean back and at the same time pull the oar looms towards you - this will pull the oar blades through the water and the boat will move forward. Pulling on one oar only will turn the boat to the opposite side. Keeping one blade in the water while moving will turn the boat to the same side.

To slow down and stop put both blades in the water and keep them there - this is called “holding water”.

To make the boat go backwards you must row backward - when you put the blades in the water, push the oar looms away from you instead of pulling them towards you. This is called “backwatering”.

Once you have learned to propel and to control the boat you will soon get used to manoeuvring to come alongside, or to pick up a mooring buoy or set an anchor. You should be able to row the dinghy around a course and be able to rescue a man overboard before you are deemed proficient.

When you have reached this degree of proficiency you will be trusted to retrieve the larger boats from their moorings and to act in support of other activities.