Rose City Rowing Club: Regatta Watching

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1 Rose City Rowing Club: Regatta Watching What are some common definitions that will help me understand what is going on during a race? Boats Boats used in rowing are referred to as shells. Originally made of wood, the newer boats are made of carbon fiber and honey-combed fiberglass. Singles are 27 feet long while the longest eight is abut 60 feet. A middle-of-the road eight today costs $22,000. Bow and stern The bow is the part of the boat that crosses the finish line first, always has a small ball attached (bow ball), and usually is where the bow number is attached. The stern crosses the finish last and is the end where the stroke (see below) of the boat sits. Port and starboard When facing the crew, port will be on the left and starboard will be on the right. Sweep rowers usually row on one side or the other; however some rowers can row on both sides. Oars Rowers use oars to move the boat through the water and also to help balance the boat. (Rowers use oars not paddles. They also row and never paddle.) Oars are made of lightweight carbon fiber. Sweep oars are about 12 long and sculling oars are about 10 long. The end of the oar that goes in the water is called a blade. The shape of the blade varies, with most RCRC crews using hatchetshaped blades, called hatchets. Seat number All seats in the boat are usually referred to by number. The person who sits in the bow of the boat is referred to as bowman or just bow. The person immediately in front of the bow is the 2-seat. The person in front of the 2-seat is the 3-seat, and so on. The person in the 8-seat is called the stroke. Always refer to the bow and stroke by these names and never by 1-seat or 8-seat. 1

2 Stroke The stroke of the boat (a.k.a. 8-seat) is the rower who sits closest to the stern of the boat. The stroke sets the cadence (stroke rate or number of strokes per minute) for the boat. Coxswain Coxswain is pronounced cox-n. One coxswain may also be called a cox. A cox steers the boat and is the on-water coach for the crew. The cox communicates with the crew using an electronic cox box that is plugged into an internal PA system in the boat. Coxswains have a special seat either in the stern or the bow of the boat. Boats that have the coxswain seat in the bow are called bowloaders. Coxswains are usually small and weigh less than 110 pounds. (Cox may also be used as a verb, e.g. Caitlin will cox the next race.) Crews are prohibited from communicating with a coach or anyone else on shore during a race. Sweep versus sculling Sweep rowers hold one oar each, while scullers hold two oars each. What is a race plan? When a crew goes out to race they are given a race plan by the coach. It is normally something they have practiced at home. Although it may include elements specific to the particular race, the plan will usually be fairly consistent from race to race. It will focus primarily on things the crew should be doing, not the other teams. Things like stroke rate, technique and any special focuses to help keep the crew together. A typical race plan will also include moves or power 10 s designed to address the other teams, but this is of secondary importance. Why don t rowers wear life jackets? Rowers have been exempted from wearing life jackets by the Coast Guard primarily because they get in the way of the rowing stroke. New designs are being developed that are rowing friendly, but in the meantime, every effort has been made to insure the safety of the crews. Rowing shells are made with watertight compartments and are very difficult to sink. The oars we use also float. Most importantly, the coaching/safety launches have life jackets that can be distributed in the unlikely event the need arises. 2

3 How can I identify an RCRC boat during a race? Blades -- RCRC blades (the part of the oar that goes in the water) are black with red and yellow horizontal stripes. Uniforms --RCRC crews wear black tops (Henleys and unisuits) Bow number --Lane assignments printed in the schedule will correspond to bow numbers on the boats. How can I identify my child in an RCRC boat during a race? Watch your child s boat launch and make a note of the seat number. Impress your friends and family by referring to your child by seat number during the race. (i.e. Johnny is in 4-seat!) How is my child s coach involved in a race? Once crews have launched, it becomes the coxswain s responsibility to coach the crew. Coaches are not allowed to accompany their crews on the water or do any coaching during a race. Coaches can usually be seen on the shore looking very anxious and nervous as they wait for their crews to come down the course. 3

4 What is the secret code that will help decipher the race schedule? Rowing schedules include many abbreviations and acronyms that may seem like you need your special decoder ring to decipher. However, it is actually pretty easy, once you understand a few of the symbols: X Identifies the race as a sculling race (rowers hold two oars) + All boats in this race have coxswains - All boats in this race do not have coxswains 1X 2X A Single: One rower in the boat A Double: Two rowers in the boat, two oars each, no coxswain 2- A Pair: Two rowers in the boat, one oar each, no coxswain 4+ A Four: Four rowers in the boat with a coxswain 4X+ A Quad: Four rowers in the boat, two oars each, coxswain 4X A Quad: Four rowers in the boat, two oars each, no coxswain 8+ An Eight: Eight rowers in the boat, one oar each, coxswain In addition, rowers are categorized by what size boat they row (single, double, four, eight, etc.), how old they are (juniors must be under 18 or enrolled in high school), how well they row (open, varsity, junior varsity, novice, etc.), what sex they are, and how much they weigh. What is a lightweight? Lightweight is a weight classification for racing. Lightweight junior boys must weight less than 165 ponds on race day, and lightweight junior girls must weight less than 130 pounds on race day.) Why doesn t RCRC have dedicated lightweight crews? RCRC doesn t boat lightweights on a regular basis for several reasons. Our first concern if for the health and development of the athletes and removing weight limitations helps prevent unhealthy dieting. In addition, in our experience it is quite possible for natural lightweights to race competitively against heavyweights. Indeed, we have never had a varsity crew that hasn t had at least one lightweight in it. Even at the elite level the lightweight crews are very similar in speed to the heavies. Given that, we decided to keep it very simple at RCRC; you are boated according to speed, not body characteristics. 4

5 Why do some races have a person s name listed for the boats? Names listed in a program are usually the coxswain or stroke of the boat. It varies from race to race. (Frequently, the boat lineup may change wich may make this listed name incorrect.) How can I tell which lane is which on the course? Sprint races are the only races that have lanes. Lane 1 is always the lane closest to the shore where the finish officials are located. Head races do not have lanes. How are lanes assigned to crews entered in sprint races? At most races, lanes or starting order are assigned by random draw. At some of the larger regattas, crews in varsity events may be seeded based on a crew s winning record or on last year s results. Races which seed events include the San Diego Crew Classic, the NW Junior Regional Championships, Head of the Lake, and Brentwood. How does the start in a sprint race differ from a head race? Sprint races typically have a standing start. Usually there are stake boats or platforms where volunteer holders hold the stern of the boat until the start of the race. Each crew in the event is timed during their race, and the winner has the fastest time. Head races usually have running starts. With a running start, boats cross the start line one at a time, with timing beginning as soon as they cross the starting line. Timing ends as soon as the boat crosses the finish line. Winners are determined after all entrants have completed the race. How do the parts of the stroke break down? Catch As the stroke begins, the rower is coiled forward on the sliding seat, with knees bent, and arms outstretched. At the catch, the blade is dropped vertically into the water. Drive At the beginning of the drive, the body position doesn t change the majority of the work is done with the legs pushing back. Then, as the upper body begins to uncoil, the arms begin their 5

6 work, drawing the blades through the water. Continuing the drive, the rower moves his hands quickly into his body, which by this time is in a layback position. Release During the finish, the oar handle is moved down, drawing the blade out of the water. At the same time, the rower feathers the oar, turning the oar handle so that the blade changes from a vertical position to a horizontal one. Recovery The oar remains out of the water as the rower begins recovery, moving the hands away from the body and past the knees. The body follows the hands and the sliding seat moves forward until, knees are bent and the rower is ready for the next catch. What is a stroke rate? The stroke rate is how many strokes per minute the crew is taking. The stroke rate is set by the stroke of the boat. A coach will determine the appropriate stroke rate for a crew based on length of race, crew experience, technical ability, and fitness. What does catching a crab mean? A rower catches a crab when the oar is placed in the water at an incorrect angle resulting in the oar snapping back, and usually stopping the boat dead in the water. This is not uncommon in novice races and should be considered part of the learning experience. While a rower may be traumatized by the experience, most rowers have at one time or another caught a crab. How can I tell if a crew is rowing well? The crew that is making it look quite easy is most likely the one that is doing the best job, working very hard, and hurting the most. Here are some things to look for in a good drew: Continuous fluid motion of the rowers The rowing motion shouldn t have a discernible end or beginning. 6

7 Synchronization Rowers strive for perfect synchronization in the boat. Like any other sport, something less than standard technique may work now and then, but if you intend to be a champion rower, you d better master the technique. Clean catches of the blade If you see a lot of splash, the blade is not entering the water correctly. The catch is supposed to happen at the very end of the recovery, when the hands are as far ahead of the rower as possible. Even blade feathering When blades are brought out of the water, they should all move horizontally at the same height, just above the water. How are rowing races officiated? Licensed USRowing referees officiate most regattas in the northwest region. USRowing officials are all well-versed in both safety and racing rules and procedures. Their highest priority is to hold a safe regatta and to ensure that all USRA safety guidelines and rules are followed. Secondly, officials ensure that every crew has an equal opportunity to win. Usually, there are officials stationed at the start and finish lines, and also several that follow races in motorboats. All officials attend regattas on a voluntary basis and spend many, long hours and most of their weekends working at regattas. The northwest region referee commission is always looking for a few good people to join their ranks contact for more information. 7