Glossary of Rowing Terms �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Bow: The rower in the front (i�e� the direction the boat is moving while rowing) of a multi person shell� In coxless boats, often the person who keeps an eye on the water behind her to avoid accidents� Bow Cox: The rower seated in the bow seat of the boat that is also responsible for steering the boat’s course� This person does not actually row the boat, but simply guides the cadence of the other rowers and steers� They face looking in the direction of travel in a seat partially enclosed in the bow of the shell� Bow ball: An essential small, soft ball no smaller than 4 cm diameter securely attached to a rowing or sculling boat’s bow� Primarily intended for safety but also useful in deciding which boat crossed the finish line first in very close races. Bow side: Starboard side� Catch: the part of the stroke at which the blade enters the water� Crab: A rowing error, in which the blade is pushed under the water and becomes caught in the flow of the water past the boat, referred to as ‘catching a crab’. This always results in slowing the boat down, and can even lift a rower out of the shell or make the boat capsize (unlikely)� Coxswain: The person in a coxed boat (normally) responsible for steering and race strategy� Coxbox: Portable voice amplifier; may also optionally incorporate digital readouts displaying stroke rate, boat speed and times� Erg: Short for ergometer: a rowing machine� Feather: To turn the oar so that its blade is parallel with the water (opposite of square)� Footplate: The piece of the boat to which the rower’s feet are attached, either by tying their actual shoes (sneakers) in, or (more often) by putting their feet into a permanently attached pair of sneakers� Gate: Term for an oarlock� Oar lock: The rectangular lock at the end of the rigger that holds the oar in place while allowing it to pivot and lock in the square or feathers position� Rating: The number of strokes executed per minute by a crew (also stroke rate)� Ratio: The relationship between the time taken during the propulsive and recovery phases of a rowing or sculling action� Rowing cycle terms: Starting with the rower at `rest’ and legs fully extended with the oar blades immersed in the water perpendicular (well ��� almost) to the water’s surface�

Feathering, the act of turning the oar blade from a position perpendicular to the surface of the water to a position parallel to the water� This is done in conjunction with the release�

Recovery, part of the rowing cycle from the release up to and including where the oar blade enters the water�

Squaring, a gradual rolling of the oar blade from a position parallel to the water to a position (almost) perpendicular to the surface of the water� This is accomplished during the recovery portion of the rowing cycle and is done in preparation for the catch�

Catch, the point of the rowing cycle at which the blade enters the water at the end of the recovery and is accomplished by an upward motion of the arms and hands only� The blade of the oar must be fully squared at the catch�

Drive, that part of the rowing cycle when the rower applies power to the oar� This is ROWING HANDBOOK | 22