Spectator Guide to Rowing

Rowing looks simple ... it has to be ... it is just pulling on an oar! Isn't it? Looks can be very deceiving!

Most of the time when non-rowers watch the sport on television, they are witnessing athletes that have reached the very pinnacle of their chosen sport. It has taken literally tens of thousands of hours training on the water for them to have reached this point.

Equipment

The Boats

Boats or shells were traditionally made from wood but are now mostly made from carbon fibre and plastic (eg Kevlar). They are 59.7-62.2cm wide and lengths vary by class (see below). A small fin is fitted at the bottom for stability. A rudder is attached to the fin or stern (except on sculling boats). A white ball is attached to the bow (safety measure, photo-finish). A washboard prevents waves from splashing water aboard. Seats are fitted with wheels which roll on runners or tracks.

The Oars

Oars are attached to the boat by adjustable outriggers and are hollow to reduce weight. The size and shape of oars is unrestricted, the average length of a sweep oar being 3.81m (12 feet 6 inches) and of a scull being 2.98m (9 feet 9 inches).

The Stroke

The stroke is made up of 4 parts ...

The Catch:
in which oars are placed in the water ...

The pull through, or Drive:
in which the legs are extended and the body opens up to make maximum use of the slide, levering the boat forwards ...

The Finish: in which oars come out of the water ...

The Recovery:
in which the rower's body moves towards the stern in preparation for the next stroke.

Oars are rotated onto the feather parallel to the water surface at the finish to minimise air resistance and to the vertical at the catch to maximise water resistance.

Weight Categories?

Lightweight men cannot weigh more than 72.5kg and the average of the whole crew cannot exceed 70kg (single sculler maximum 72.5kg). Lightweight women cannot weigh more than 59kg and the average of the whole crew cannot exceed 57kg (single sculler 59kg).

The Regatta

Championship races are rowed over 2,000 metres (1 mile 427 yards) in typically six lanes which are straight and buoyed. There are up to four rounds - heats, repechages, semi-finals and finals. The repechage round is for losing crews in the heats, meaning that every crew which loses in a heat has a second chance before being eliminated. The draw is conducted round by round according to alternative and previously undisclosed systems. The first three crews in each semi-final compete in the A final for places 1-6. The last three crews in each semi-final compete in the B final for places 7-12. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded for the first three crews to cross the line in the A final.

Things to Bring

Water	Sunscreen
Snacks	Chap Stick
Camera	Wet Weather Gear
Binoculars	Jacket
Sunglasses	Folding Chair
Hat	Blanket

Note: full catering will be provided at the National Championships

Guide to Boats

	Single Scull: is the smallest of all boats used in rowing. It is used by one athlete, with a pair of sculling blades (oars) (one in each hand).
	Double Scull: two rowers, each using a pair of sculling blades.
	Coxless Pair: rowed by a pair of rowers each with a single sweep oar.
	Coxed Four: four athletes rowing, each with a single sweep oar. A coxswain is on board to steer the boat.
	Coxed Quad Scull: four athletes on board, each with a pair of sculling blades. A coxswain is on board to steer the boat.
	Coxless Four: four athletes on board, each with a single sweep oar. No coxswain is on board to steer the boat - the athlete at the stern of the boat steers via a cable connecting the rudder to his footstretcher.
Coxed Eight: is the largest of all boats used in racing. There are eight rowers on board, each with a single sweep oar. A coxswain is also on hand to steer.