Seeking to unify rowing terms within the Cambridge college rowing community.

Abbreviations

e.g. MJ154x+. M = Men, W = women. J15 = Junior Under 15 (ie Junior Colts), 4= number of people in the boat, x = sculling, as opposed to no mention, which is rowing: + denotes coxed, - denotes a coxless boat.

ARA

See British Rowing.

Arms only

Row (or scull) with straight legs and upright back just using your arms.

Back down

Term used to describe using a reverse rowing action to manoeuvre the boat backwards or for turning.

Backstay

The back brace of a rigger that locks the pin in position to maintain pitch. (Not found on wing rigger boats and certain sculling boats.)

Backstops

The end of the slide nearest the bow. Prevents the seat from running off the slide. Also used to describe the position at which the athlete sits with their legs straight and blade to their chest.

Blade

An oar.

Bow

1. End of the boat that travels through the water first and is sharpest.
2. Athlete that sits in the seat position nearest this end of the boat.

Bow Ball

Ball shaped safety cap that sits over the bow end of the boat. Compulsory on all rowing boats for safety of other water users.

Bow Side

The right hand (starboard) side of the boat as the cox sits or the left hand side of the boat for a rower. Often marked by a green stripe on the oar.

British Rowing (BR)

Formerly the Amateur Rowing Association (ARA). The national governing body for rowing in England, to which all clubs should be affiliated. Offers individual membership with benefits of monthly magazine, website information, insurance and racing licence to open regattas that are run under the association’s rules.

Bumping Races

Races over four days where college crews attempt to bump the crew in front in order to ascend the bumping league.

Burst

A small number of strokes (usually less than a minute) taken at full pressure in training.

Button

The plastic circular section of the oar that is pressed against the swivel when rowing. Button can be moved along the collar to adjust blade gearing. Historically was a lump of leather about 2cm square.

Canvas

The covered section of the boat that is from the bow to the open area (where the athlete sits) and from the open area to the stern. Often used as a description of how much a race was won or lost by. Historically this covering was made of canvas.

Capsize Drill

A routine drill, conducted in a single scull covering procedures in the event of a capsize.

Catch

The moment at which the spoon of the blade is immersed in the water and propulsive force applied. Immersion and force application should be indistinguishable actions.

Caught In, to get

A minor, but not necessarily disastrous, crab.

Cleaver

Type of blade that has a spoon in the shape of a meat cleaver; modern asymmetric shape.

Collar

Plastic sleeve fixed to the oar that the button circles. Collar or sleeve rests in the swivel and has two flat surfaces to allow you to easily feel the ‘square’ and ‘feathered’ positions.

Come forward

Verbal instruction used by the cox or athlete to bring the crew to frontstops position ready to row.

Connection

Used to describe the link between the power of an athlete’s legs to the force applied to the spoon of the blade. Should be made as soon as the catch is.

Cover

The distance travelled with a single stroke, most easily seen by looking at the space between the current stroke’s puddles and the previous stroke’s puddles.

Cox

Properly ‘coxswain’. Person who steers and commands the boat by means of strings or wires attached to the rudder. Can be positioned in either the stern or bow of the boat.

Cox Box

The gadget that amplifies the cox telling you what to do, and which gives the cox information on rate and sometimes speed.

Coxless

Boat without a cox.

Crab

When the oar becomes caught in the water at the moment of extraction and the blade handle strikes the athlete. Often causes unintentional release of the blade and significant slowing of boat speed.

Crew

The rowers who make up the team in an Eight, Four, Pair, Double or Quad.

Double

Boat for two scullers.

Drop

Command used when the blades are to drop on the surface of the water after easy oars.

Easy All

Complete the current stroke - if moving - and bring the hands to the ‘safe position’. This is legs straight, arms straight, back straight. If you are coming to a stop the blades should not be on the water, but feathered and used to balance, until instructed to drop. You may hear ‘easy oars’ – this is acceptable and means the same. ‘Easy all’ is as distinct from ‘easy bow four/bow pair’ etc.

Eight

Boat for eight sweep rowers. Will always have a cox.

Ergo / Erg

Short for Ergometer. A land based rowing machine used for training, that simulates the oarsman’s action in the boat and measures various parameters such as power, length, frequency, 500m time, distance etc.

Extraction

The removal of the blade from the water by application of downward pressure to the blade handle. In sweep this is done with the outside hand on the blade handle. The movement is easiest when force is applied to the spoon of the blade until the last moment.

Feather

To rotate the oar through 90 degrees so that the spoon is parallel to the water. This (i.e. ‘feathered’) is the position of the spoon for the recovery section of the stroke. Athletes must be careful to fully extract the blade before feathering.

Fin

A piece of metal or plastic attached to the underside of the boat towards the stern. Provides directional stability by preventing sideways slippage.

Finish

The last part of the stroke where the blade handle is drawn in to the body. Following this (assuming clean extraction) the boat will be at its maximum speed. Force must be applied to the spoon right to the finish so that water does not catch up with the spoon.

Firm

Term used to suggest that the athlete is applying full pressure to the power phase of their rowing stroke.

Footstretcher

A metallic or carbon plate inside the boat to which the shoes are attached via a footplate. Secured with adjustable screws.

Fore / aft pitch

Angle of inclination of the pin to the vertical in relation to the stern / bows.

Four

Boat for four sweep rowers. Can be coxed or coxless.

Frontstops

The end of the slide nearest the stern. Prevents the seat from running off the slide. Also used to describe the position at which the athlete sits with their shins at vertical and the spoon at the furthest point to the bows.

Full Pressure

Flat out, typically for short periods.

Full slide

Rowing a full stroke length, shins to the vertical.

Gate

The metal bar, tightened by a screw that closes over the swivel to secure oar. Commonly used to refer to entire oar-holding swivel as well.

Gearing

Term used to describe the ratio of inboard to outboard on the blade that determines how much power the athlete can apply through the water.

Half Pressure

Make the boat go faster, not necessarily by increasing the rate but by pushing harder.

Half slide

Rowing with slide so knees now bend up to 90 degrees.

Half Turn

Rotate boat on long axis from horizontal to vertical or vice-versa.

Handle

The bit of the oar you hold while rowing.

Head race

These events take place during the winter months. The boats go down the course one after the other at 10-15 second intervals. Each boat has a rolling start and is timed between the start line and the finish line. When all the boats have finished, the time for each to have completed the course is calculated, and a winner of each class is found.

Heads

Lift and rotate the boat until above your head with straight arms.

Heel Restraints

Attached to the heels of the shoes and to the foot plate. Compulsory safety feature that helps the athlete to release their feet from the shoe in the event of a capsize.

Height

Measurement of distance from seat to point of work at the centre of the bottom edge of the swivel.

Hold it up

Verbal instruction meaning to bring the boat to a stop quickly by turning blade square in water. Perform an emergency stop. You may distinguish between ‘hold it hard’ and ‘hold it lightly’.

Inboard

The length of the blade from the end of the handle to the button at the point where it will sit against the swivel.

Inside Hand

The hand holding the oar that is nearest to the gate. This hand is responsible for feathering the oar.

Italianate Rig / Frig Rig

Where the boat is not rigged alternately bow/stroke/bow/stroke but stroke/bow/bow/stroke or the reverse.

Lateral pitch

The outward angle of inclination of the pin to the vertical.

Length

Length of stroke- the arc through which the blade turns when it is in the water from catch to finish.

Level off

Return the boat to the level (upside-down) position from (for example) a half turn.

Loom

The shaft of the blade from the spoon to the handle.

Lycra

Some people might call it a leotard or a one-piece but the rowing world prefers to call it a lycra as it's less embarrassing!

Macon

Type of blade that has the traditional rounded symmetrical shape spoon.

Novice

Term used to describe someone who has very little rowing experience; once Michaelmas Term races are complete in Cambridge a rower is no longer a novice, although in ARA terms they may remain so.

Oar

Lever used to propel a rowing boat. Also known as a blade.

Octuple

Rarely seen on the water this is an eight man sculling boat.

Outboard

The length of the blade from the tip of the spoon to the button at the point where it will sit against the swivel.

Outside Hand

The hand holding the end of the oar handle.

Overlap

The amount by which the scull handles overlap when an athlete holds them horizontally at right angles to the boat.

Paddle Light

Row gently, concentrating on recovery after work, or on technique before.

Paddle Firm

Row flat out, concentrating on technique and speed. Archaic term but still heard.

Pair

Boat for two sweep rowers.

Pin

The spindle on which the swivel rotates.

Pitch

Angle of inclination of the spoon to the vertical during the propulsive phase of the stroke. This is dictated by both the fore/aft and lateral pitches.

Pogies

Fleece mittens specially designed to fit over handle to keep hands warm without reducing grip and feel.

Points

Points are awarded to athletes for winning races. Number of points determines the status of the athlete. See the ARA Rules of Racing for more details.

Posture

Position of back and shoulder muscles during the stroke cycle.

Power phase

The part of the stroke between the catch and the extraction when the blade is in the water and propelling the boat.

Pressure

The amount of effort applied by the athlete to the power phase of the stroke. (Usually light, 1/2, 3/4, firm or full.)

Puddle

Swirl left in the water after the blade has been extracted at the end of the stroke. Used by the coach to determine if you are working hard!

Push

Tactical increase of effort and hopefully speed.

Quad

Boat for four scullers.

Quarter slide

To row with a very slight bend of the knees.

Rate

Or rating. Number of strokes rowed in a minute. Often referred to as ‘pips’.

Ratio

The ratio of the time taken for the power phase to that of the recovery phase of the stroke. Ideally time taken for the recovery will be about three times that of the power phase. 1:3; this generally contributes to good rhythm.

Recovery

The part of the stroke phase between the extraction and the catch when the blade is out of the water.

Regatta

A competition with events for different boat types and status athletes usually involving heats, semi finals and finals for each event. Boats compete side by side from a standing start.

Rhythm

(Good) Optimum ratio.

Rigger jigger

A small spanner used for attaching and adjusting riggers.

Riggers

Metal outriggers attached to the boat outer shell of the boat next to each seat that support the swivel and the pin. There are currently several different designs of rigger from two or three stay metal or carbon tubing to metal or carbon wings.

Rigging

The way in which the riggers, slides, swivel, pins, foot plate, oars and sculls can be adjusted to optimise athlete comfort and efficiency.

Rolling start

A racing start undertaken with the boat already moving.

Rudder

The device under the boat which when moved causes change of direction. Linked to the cox or a crew member by wires.

Saxboard

The sides of the boat above the water line made to strengthen the boat where the riggers attach.

Scull

1. a verb
2. an oar, one of a pair and smaller than a sweep oar
3. commonly a sculling boat

Sculling

Rowing with two oars.

Seat Racing

An attempt to ensure that selection for crews is as objective as possible. Two crews race each other, then one oarsman from each boat swaps with another from the other boat. No other changes are made, and the crews then race again. The comparative differences in the times of each crew from one race to the next are registered, and the winner is the oarsman who has either reduced the difference of loss or increased the margin of the win.

Shell

The smooth hull of the boat. Sometimes made from wood but more commonly now from a synthetic material.

Slide

Two metal runners on which the seat travels. (Historically sliding was achieved with leather breeches & goose fat!)

Span

The distance between the centres of the bow and stroke side swivel on a sculling boat, or the centre of the swivel to the centre of the keel on a rowing boat.

Spin

To turn the boat around on the water by backing down and rowing on alternately.

Splash-Top

Waterproof item of clothing designed so that you can row in it whilst being warm.

Split to waists / to shoulders

Move from heads position where bow side rowers and stroke side rowers move to opposite sides of the boat while boat is lowered to waist level or shoulder level.

Spoon

The end of the oar which enters the water. Usually painted in the colours of the club represented by the athlete.

Square or squaring

To turn the oar so that the spoon is at 90 degrees to the water. This action should be done early during the recovery to ensure good preparation for the catch.

Stakeboat

An anchored boat or pontoon from which rowing boats are held prior to a race starting.

Standing start

A racing start done from stationary.

Status

Levels of racing determined by the number of times an athlete has won a race. Athletes are awarded points for each race they win. In a crew boat status is determined by the total number of points the crew has. See the ARA Rules of Racing for more details.

Steady State

Nearly flat out, but at a low rate that can be maintained.

Stern

The end of the boat that travels through the water last.

Stroke

1. One cycle of the oar.
2. The rower who sits closest to the stern of the boat in front of all the others and is responsible for the rating and rhythm of the boat. (Other crew members can influence rating and rhythm from behind.)

Stroke side

The left hand (port) side of the boat as the cox sits or the right hand side of the boat for a rower. Often marked by a red stripe on the oar.

Sweep

Rowing with one oar on one side of the boat.

Swivel

The U shaped plastic rotating piece mounted on the pin in which the oar sits whilst rowing.

Tap down

To the lower the hands at the end of the stroke to extract the spoon from the water.

Tap turn

Term used to describe a method of turning the boat where each rower uses a forwards or backwards rowing action with their arms only.

Technical-Top

Also known as "tech-top". A tight fitting top that you wear when training. Usually worn in cold weather.

Three-quarter slide

Almost a full stroke but shins not quite vertical.

Trestles

Portable stands used to support a boat for rigging, washing, admiring etc.

Veteran

A rower or sculler whose age exceeds 27 on the 1st January on the year of competition. Classed from veteran A to G, and handicaps are usually applied in races.

Wear plate

Part of collar assembly which assists in holding the blade in squared or feathered positions.

With lean

Next stage after arms only, and adds in the rocking motion of the back. This motion should be achieved from the pelvis and not by curving the back.

Zephyr

Traditional rowing shirt, similar to a T-shirt with open collar, usually depicting college colours.