All About ROWING

Contents
Races
Equipment
Boats and crews
Glossary

Mixed Coxed Four event

OVERVIEW

Objective: rowing competitors aim to complete a set course in the shortest possible time. The first rower, or team across the finish line wins. For major competitions, the courses are straight, and divided into lanes. A standard course is 2000 metres.

The rules described here are for international competitions, known as regatta events. The other type of competition is head of the river races, where boats set off at intervals and the winner is decided by the fastest time over the course.

DETAILED RULES

Races

To start the race, all boats will be behind the start line, which may be marked by floats or buoys. All boats must be aligned properly, as straight as possible. If one or more boats crosses the start line early, this is a false start, and the race is restarted.

During the race, each boat should keep within its own lane (if marked). The race is won when the bow of the first boat to cross the finish line does so.

Types of boats and crews

In sculling, each rower uses two oars, also called sculls. In (sweep) rowing, each rower uses one oar. The coxswain is the person who steers the boat and serves as the on-the-water coach. All eights have coxswains, but pairs and fours may or may not. In all sculling boats and sweep boats without coxswains, a rower steers the boat by using a rudder moved with the foot.

Single sculls - one rower. The boats are approximately 8.2 metres long (27 feet).
Double sculls - two rowers. The boats are approximately 10.4 metres long (34 feet).
Quadruple sculls - four rowers. The boats are approximately 13.4 metres long (44 feet).
Coxless pair - two rowers. The boats are approximately 10.4 metres long (34 feet).
Coxed pair - two rowers, one coxswain. The boats are approximately 10.7 metres long (35 feet).
Coxless four - four rowers. The boats are approximately 13.4 metres long (44 feet).
Coxed four - four rowers, one coxswain. The boats are approximately 13.7 metres long (45 feet).
Eights - eight rowers, one coxswain. The boats are approximately 18.9 metres long (62 feet).

Equipment

Oars and boats are different sizes and weights for different competitions.

GLOSSARY

Blade - the flat end of the oar, which goes in the water.
Bow - the forward section of the boat.
Stern - the back section of the boat.
Stroke - a part of the rowing action, and also the term for the rower at the back who sets the pace.

COMMENTS

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