Boat Sports: A Beginner's Guide to Rowing

Written by: John Maguire

 

Rowing, the art of propelling a boat using oars, includes various watercraft such as shells and sculls. Each vessel is designed for specific racing conditions on inland rivers and lakes. While rowing involves a single oar grasped with both hands, sculling employs two oars, one in each hand.

Competitive rowing utilizes oars constructed with a wooden shaft, featuring a rounded handle and a shaped blade. Typically, these shafts consist of two halves joined together to reduce weight and enhance flexibility. The blade, which is either flat or slightly curved, ensures a strong grip on the water. The middle section of the oar, known as the loom, acts as a pivot point, either resting in an oarlock or between thole pins on the boat's gunwale. To prevent slippage, oars are equipped with fixed leather or adjustable metal/plastic collars called buttons. In sculling, the oars are referred to as sculls.

Historically, rowing originated as a mode of transportation, with ancient civilizations like Egypt and the Roman Empire utilizing galleys for military and state purposes. In England, rowing emerged as early as the 13th century on the River Thames, evolving into organized races by the 16th century. The 18th century saw the rise of professional watermen, leading to the establishment of regattas and races, such as Doggett's Coat and Badge in 1715.

Rowing as a recreational activity gained traction in the 19th century, particularly in England and the United States, with clubs and schools adopting it as a sport. Organized racing commenced at universities like Oxford and Cambridge, culminating in the renowned Henley Regatta in 1839. The popularity of rowing spread to Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United States throughout the mid-19th to early 20th centuries.

The formalization of rowing as a sport led to the formation of local and national organizations, including the International Rowing Federation (FISA) in 1892. Various rowing events, both for crews and individual scullers, were established with the inclusion of rowing in the Olympic Games starting in 1900 for men and 1976 for women.

If you are venturing into the world of rowing for the first time, this guide will equip you with the fundamental knowledge you need to get started.

Understanding Rowing Events

Rowing competitions are divided into two main disciplines: sweep rowing and sculling. Within these disciplines, there are further categories: lightweight and open. Additionally, rowers are grouped based on age, including Juniors, Under-23, Open, and Masters.

Sculling vs. Sweep Rowing

Scullers are athletes who handle two oars, one in each hand. The primary sculling events include the single (1x), double (2x), and quad (4x), with occasional appearances of the octuple (8x) in certain regattas. On the other hand, sweep rowers manage only one oar, with the boat configurations varying based on the presence of a coxswain. These configurations include pairs with a coxswain (2+), pairs without (2-), fours with a coxswain (4+), fours without (4-), and the eight (8+), which always includes a coxswain and is considered the fastest boat on the water.

Understanding the Roles Within the Boat

Each rower in a boat is assigned a seat number, starting from the bow (seat number 1) to the stern (seat number 8), also known as the stroke seat. The stroke, typically seated in the stern, plays a crucial role in setting the rhythm and stroke rate for the crew, guiding their performance throughout the race. A coxswain also plays a pivotal role, steering the boat and coordinating the team's strategy while sitting in the stern of the boat and calling out the team's strokes.

Weight and Age Categories

Rowers can compete in open categories regardless of weight, but there are specific weight restrictions for lightweight categories. Men in the lightweight category must not exceed 160 pounds individually, with the average weight of the entire boat not exceeding 155 pounds. Women in the lightweight category cannot weigh more than 130 pounds individually.

Age is also a factor, with rowers categorized as Juniors, Under-23, and Masters based on their age at the start of the calendar year. Athletes enrolled in a secondary school or who do not turn nineteen during the current calendar year are classified as a Junior. Under-23 are for athletes who have not turned twenty-three. To reach the Masters category, a rower must be the age of twenty-seven, although some modern regattas have changed their requirement to be 21 years of age. Rowers of all ages are welcome to row at open regatta events.

Understanding Rowing Races

Rowing races typically cover 2,000 meters, although Junior races may use a 1,500-meter course. Races are divided into six lanes marked by buoys every 500 meters, with crews aligning at the start under the supervision of an official aligner. The race begins with a high stroke rate, gradually settling into a sustainable rhythm. Crews may sprint towards the finish line based on the coach's strategy and race dynamics. During the race, rowers can leave their lanes without penalty, but they cannot hinder another team in any way. When the race is over, the team will continue to row to cool down. The winning crew will row to the awards dock, leave their shells, and receive their metals before putting their boats away.

Mastering the Rowing Stroke

A well-executed stroke is essential for maintaining boat speed and efficiency throughout the race.

The rowing stroke involves four key phases: Catch, Drive, Finish, and Recovery. Each phase requires coordination of the entire body, with the legs providing the primary power. At the catch, the rower drops the oar blade vertically into the water while coiled forward with bent knees and arms outstretched. During the drive, the legs do the work initially, followed by the uncoiling of the upper body and the engagement of the arms. As the drive continues, the rower moves into a slight "lay back" position, using strong abdominal muscles.

In the finish, the oar handle is lowered to draw the oar blade out of the water while the rower "feathers" the oar, transitioning it from vertical to horizontal. Then, during the recovery, the rower moves their hands away from the body, followed by the body and the sliding seat, preparing for the next catch. In Head Races, crews start individually at set intervals, trying to catch up to those in front while avoiding being overtaken. Time penalties can occur for interference, and the crew with the quickest time wins.

The Equipment

Oars, essential for propelling the boat and maintaining balance, have evolved significantly. Modern sweep oars, crafted from lightweight carbon fiber, feature larger "hatchet" blades, enhancing efficiency and becoming the preferred choice for elite rowers worldwide. Meanwhile, sculling boats, known as shells, accommodate rowers with two oars each, with variations including single sculls, double sculls, and quadruple sculls. Constructed primarily from honeycombed carbon fiber for competitive purposes, these boats are meticulously designed to be both lightweight and durable, with the single scull measuring approximately twenty-seven feet long and as narrow as ten inches across. The eight, the longest boat, spans sixty feet.

Riggers, which provide leverage for rowing, connect the oars to the boat, with configurations tailored to optimize power distribution among rowers. While sweep rowers typically alternate their oars from side to side along the boat, variations exist, such as aligning two consecutive rowers on the same side in certain boats like the 4- or 4+, aimed at balancing individual athlete strength. This intricate balance of equipment design and rigging techniques underscores the precision and teamwork inherent in the sport of rowing.

Additional Race Insights

Watching a regatta offers insights into the sport's intricacies, including stroke synchronization, clean catches, even oar blade feathering, and consistent speed maintenance. Despite its graceful appearance, rowing demands exceptional physical fitness, mental discipline, and technical skill from athletes.

Fun Rowing Facts

  • Rowing boasts a rich history, being one of the original sports in the modern Olympic Games.
  • Physiologically, rowers are among the most physically fit athletes, with races demanding immense aerobic capacity, technical proficiency, and mental toughness.
  • The founder of the modern Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, was a rower.
  • The first organized team sport contested in the US was rowing.
  • The race between Yale and Harvard, which began in 1852, is the longest running athletic competition in the US.
  • Boats are constructed of fiberglass composite material and can sometimes weigh as little as 200 pounds.
  • In 1839, the first rowing club in the U.S. was formed, The Detroit Boat Club.
  • In 1858, the first amateur sports organization was formed, the Philadelphia Schuylkill Navy Rowing Club.
  • The men's Olympic rowing team won the gold medal in the men's eight at every Olympic Game from 1920 to 1956.
  • In 1843, Yale College founded the first collegiate boat club.
  • Rowing a 2,000-meter race is physiologically equal to playing back-to-back basketball games.

Additional Resources