Ever wondered what all those categories in a race programme mean but been afraid to ask? Want to understand what your son is on about when he talks about rowing? Then read on. Let us know if there's anything you would like added or that you think does not apply (our contact details are on the Who's Who page).

What kinds of boats are used?

The boats (or shells) are basically of two types and reflect the two forms of rowing -sweep rowing and sculling. In sweep rowing each rower handles a single oar (about 12.5 ft or 3.9 m long); in sculling a rower uses two oars, or sculls (each about 9.5 ft or 3 m long). The word shell is often used in reference to the boats used because the hull is only about 1/8" to 1/4" thick to make it as light as possible.

Each rower has his back to the direction the shell is moving and power is generated using a blended sequence of the rower's legs, back and arms. The rower sits on a sliding seat with wheels on a track called the slide.

Each oar is held in a U-shaped swivel (oarlock) mounted on a metal pin at the end of a rigger. The rigger is an assembly of tubes that is tightly bolted to the body of the shell. The subtypes of rowing shells are classified according to the number of rowers in the shell.

Sweep Boats (each rower has one oar)

These shells can have a coxswain - a person who steers the shell (using a rudder) and urges the rowers on. See in parenthesis the symbol used for each subtype.

• Coxed Pair (2+)
  Two sweep rowers with a coxswain.
• Coxless Pair (2-)
  Two sweep rowers without a coxswain.
• Coxed Four (4+)
  Four sweep rowers with a coxswain.
• Straight (or Coxless) Four (4-)
  Four sweep rowers without a coxswain. Steering is usually accomplished via a rudder that is attached to a cable that is connected to one of the rower's foot stretchers (this an adjustable bracket to which the rower's feet are secured). The coxless pair has a similar type of rudder setup.
• Eight (8+/8o)
  Eight sweep rowers with a coxswain. Eights are 60+ ft (~18.5 m) long and weigh about 250 pounds (~114 kg).

Sculling Boats (each rower has two oars)

Only in rare cases do these boats have a coxswain. Steering is generally accomplished by applying more power or pressure to the oar(s) on one side of the shell.

• Single (1X)
  One rower or sculler. Singles are about 26 ft (8 m) long and less than a foot (0.3 m) wide. Racing singles can weigh as little as 30 pounds (~13.5 kg).
• Double (2X)
  Two scullers. Most racing doubles can be also used as a pair with a different set of riggers designed for sweep oars. When used as a pair a rudder is usually added.
• Quadruple (4X)
  Four scullers. Often referred to as a `quad' and usually has a rudder attached to one of the sculler's foot stretchers as in the straight four. Most quads can also be rigged as a straight four using a different set of riggers.
• Octuple (8X)
  Eight scullers.

Race Formats

The races have separate divisions - Men's (M), Women's (W), then divided up into 8+'s, 4+'s, 1x's, 2x's and so on. So for a typical regatta you might see separate races scheduled for M8+, W8+, M4+, W4+ up to W1x and M1x. You may also see divisions according to experience (novice, varsity), age (junior and masters), and skill level (senior A, B, Elite, etc.)

Regattas

The standard international racing distance is 2000 meters (preferably straight) and the course usually has six shells racing against each other in their separate designated lanes which may or may not be marked by buoys. These races can take anywhere from 5 1/2 to 8 1/2 minutes depending on boat class, weather conditions, water current and the physical condition and experience of the rowers.

Other racing distances are 1000 meters or 1500 meters. Also, there is a match style (i.e. races with two boats head to head in a single elimination format for each division) racing at some regattas (e.g. Thames Ditton).

Head Races

These races, which are generally held early in the season, are about 3-5000 meters long and the boats are started in their respective divisions separately at 10 second intervals. These things are usually conducted on a river with an assortment of bridges and turns that can make passing quite interesting.

What do the terms used in rowing mean?

Equipment terminology

Blades
The wide flat section of the oar at the head of the shaft, also known as the spoon. This term is often used when referring to the entire oar.

Hatchets (a.k.a. big blades or choppers or cleavers)
These were introduced by Concept II (Spring 1992) and are what the names indicate - oar blades that have a bigger surface area than the `standard' (Macon) blades and have a hatchet or meat cleaver shape. The hatchets are a bit shorter (by about 7 cm) than the standard blades.

Scull
This term is used interchangeably when referring to one of the oars used in a sculling shell, the shell itself or to the act of rowing a sculling shell.

Foot Stretcher (or bootstretchers)
An adjustable bracket in a shell to which the rower's feet are secured in some sort of shoe or clog.

Seat
The sliding seat that the rower sits on. The term "seat" also refers to the rower’s place in the boat; the convention is to number the seats from bow to stern, i.e. the rower closest to the front of the boat is "1-seat" the next, "2-seat", etc. The 1-seat is also commonly referred to as "bowseat" or just "bow" while the sternmost (rear) seat is referred to as "stroke seat" or just "stroke".

Rigger (or outrigger)
The device that connects the oarlock to the shell and is bolted to the body of the shell. On sweep boats, riggers are typically alternating from one side to the other on adjacent seats, but it is not uncommon to see two adjacent riggers on the same side. This is referred to as "tandem rigging".

Oarlock (or rowlock)
A U-shaped swivel which holds the oar in place. It's mounted at the end of the rigger and rotates around a metal pin. A gate closes across the top to keep the oar in.

Button (or collar)
A plastic or metal fitting tightened on the oar to keep the oar from slipping through the oarlock.

Slide (or track)
The track on which the seat moves.

Gunwale (or gunnel, saxboard)
Top section on the sides of a shell which runs along the sides of the crew section where the rowers are located. The riggers are secured to the gunwale with bolts.

Keel
Technically, the structural member running the length of the boat at the bottom of the hull. Today, some shells are built without this member so the term often refers to the center line of the shell.

Rudder
Steering device at the stern. The rudder is connected to some cables (tiller ropes) that the coxswain can use to steer the shell.

Skeg (or Fin)
A small fin located along the stern section of the hull. This helps to stabilize the shell in holding a true course when rowing. All racing shells have a skeg. The skeg should not be confused with the rudder.

Rigging
The adjustment and alteration of accessories (riggers, foot-stretchers, oar, etc.) in and on the shell.

Slings (or boat slings, or trestles)
Collapsible/portable frames with straps upon which a shell can be placed temporarily.

Other terms of interest

Bow
The forward end of the shell. Also used as the name of the person sitting nearest to the bow.

Stern
The rear end of the shell.

Port
The left side of the boat when facing the bow (stroke side in the UK and Ireland).

Starboard
The right side of the shell when facing the bow (bow side in the UK and Ireland).

Coxswain
The person who steers the shell and urges the rowers on during practices and in a race. A knowledgeable coxswain can also serve as a coach for the rowers and can be the difference between winning and losing a race.

The Stroke
The rower sitting nearest the stern. The stroke is responsible for setting the stroke length and cadence (with the coxswain's gentle advice).

Rating
The number of strokes per minute. Also known as stroke rating.

Crab
A problem encountered by a rower when their oar gets `stuck' in the water. The momentum of the shell can overcome the rower's control of the oar. In more extreme cases the rower can actually be ejected from the shell by the oar.

Jumping the slide
Another problem encountered by a rower when the seat becomes derailed from the track during the rowing cycle.

Our thanks to http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~crew/rowingfaq.html