ARA

The Amateur Rowing Association - former name for British Rowing.

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.

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

Another term for oar, scull, spoon - used casually for any or all three.

Beginning

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. Also called the Catch.

Blade

An oar

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.

Bow

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

Breakwater

A V-shaped part of the hull structure, immediately behind the bow person or single sculler, acting as a barrier to limit water going into the well of the boat from over the bows.

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.

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 to as a description of how much a race was won or lost by.

Catch

See beginning

Cleaver

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

Collar

Plastic sleeve fixed to the oar that the button circles. Button can be moved along the collar to adjust blade gearing.

Connection

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

Cox

Person who steers the boat by means of strings or wires attached to the rudder. Can be positioned in either the stern or bow of the boat.

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.

 

Double

Boat for two scullers

Eight

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

Ergo

Indoor rowing machine used for training.

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. Movement easiest when force is applied to the spoon of the blade until the last moment.

Feather

Blade spoon is flat to the water. This is the position of the blade 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 underneath of the boat.  It provides directionality stability by preventing the boat from slipping sideways in adverse conditions such as a side-wind.

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.

FISA

The Federation Internationale des Societes d’Aviron is the international rowing federation. The federation is responsible for all international racing and rules. Organises a series of 3 World Cup Regattas and World Championships annually.

Fixed Seat

Either a description used to differentiate a boat without a sliding seat mechanism or the athlete rowing arms and or body only and therefore not moving their seat.

Four

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

Frontstop

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 legs at 90 and the blade spoon at the furthest point to the bows.

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.

 

Head Race

Race in which crews are timed over a set distance. Usually run as a processional race rather than side by side.

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.

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.

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.

Loom

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

 

 

Macon

Type of blade that has the traditional tulip shaped spoon.

 

Novice

Term used to describe someone who has very little rowing experience.

Oar

Lever used to propel a rowing boat. Also known as a blade. - these include pencils, Macons and cleaver types.

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.

Overlap

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

Pair

Boat for two sweep rowers.

Pin/swivel 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 stern and lateral pitch.

Points

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

Posture

Position of back and shoulder muscles during the stroke cycle. See section on flexibility and posture.

Power phase

The part of the stroke between the beginning 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, ½, ¾, firm or full) 

 

Quad

Boat for four scullers. 

Rate

Or rating. Number of strokes rowed in a minute.

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 at 20 strokes per minute but will reduce as the rate is increased.

Recovery

The part of the stroke phase between the extraction and the beginning or 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.

Rudder

The small moveable fin on the underside of the boat controlled by the cox (or one of the crew) to steer. It is steered through wires connected to the cox's hands (or one of the crews shoes which can pivot) and the rudder bar.

Running start

A racing start undertaken with the boat already moving. 

Saxboard

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

Scull

Smaller version of an oar - there are two of these per rower when used in sculling.

Sculling

Rowing with two oars.

Shell

A boat with smooth moulded skin of either wood or synthetic material.  Also known as a fine boat.

Slide

The parallel metal tracks on which the seat moves.

Span

The distance between the centres of the bow and stroke side swivel on a sculling boat.

Spin turn

Term used to describe turning the boat on its axis.

Spoon

The end of the oar/scull which is placed in the water and past which the boat is moved by leverage of the oar/scull. 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 British Rowing Rules of Racing for more details.

Stern pitch

Sternwards angle of inclination of the pin to the vertical.

Stern

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

Stretcher

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

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.

Stroke

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)

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. The oar is secured in the swivel by a gate.

Tap down

To the lower the hands at the end of the stroke to remove 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 there arms only.

Timing

Rowers adjusting their movements to the rest of the crew so that the blade work and sliding are synchronised.

Trestles

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

Washing Out

Allowing the blades to become uncovered in the propulsive phase of the stroke, usually towards the end of the stroke.