QuintinBoatClub
Glossary of Rowing Terminology
Coxswains’ or Steersman’s Commands
Carrying the boat
Bowside/strokeside riggers coming up .. half...turn
In narrow confines, like the interior of the boathouse, the boat is carried on the half turn,
with the riggers in a vertical plane.
Bottom Up
This command returns the boat to its normal upside-down carrying position
Right way up
This command turns the boat from the half turn to…guess what… the right way up.
Swing the bows/stern round
Used to manoeuvre the boat as required.
Embarking
Rolling the boat…towards the river…turn
With the crew evenly distributed on either side of the boat the boat is rolled over in the
hands, raising the side furthest from the water and rotating until the boat is the right way
up.
Strokeside/bowside hands across.. bowside/strokeside under
One side holds the boat with one hand on one side and one on the other; the other side
then passes under the boat and then joins the other side in holding the boat, all on the
same (shore) side of the boat
Throwing the boat, strokeside/bowside moving, are you ready.. up…down
On the word “up” the boat is lifted above head height with outstretched arms. On the
word “down” the boat is lowered right way up to waist level with everybody on the shore
side of the boat. This achieves the same result as the first two actions in a single action,
and is generally preferred, but should not be carried out if the conditions (wind, location
etc.) would make it hazardous.
Walk her out…lower
The crew walks out into the water to a sufficient depth and then the command is given to
lower the boat into the water
Blades in strokeside/bowside
The side of the crew with their riggers nearer to the shore should open their gates, place
the oar in the gate and close and tighten the gate. The oar should be pushed as far
outboard as is practicable (for stability of the boat).
Bowside/strokeside, hands across.. one foot in… together
The side of the crew with their riggers on the river side place their hands one on either
saxboard and, on the commands place first one foot and then the other into the boat.
They then lower themselves into their seats in their own time.
Blades in bowside/strokeside
As soon as they are seated, this command should be given. And the oars on the river
side placed in the swivel and the gate closed. The oars should be pushed outboard right
up to the button.
Bowside/strokeside sitting the boat, strokeside/bowside, hands across…one
foot in… together
The members of the crew already in the boat make sure they are sitting the boat with
their oars and the remainder embark as before.
© 2010 QuintinBoatClub
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QuintinBoatClub
Glossary of Rowing Terminology
Disembarking
Bowside/strokeside sitting the boat strokeside/bowside one foot out…
together
The side of the crew with their oars still in the water (river side) sit the boat while the other
side place one hand on each saxboard, then on the commands step one foot on to the
shore and then the other.
Blades out strokeside/bowside
The side of the crew with their blades still in the water undo their gates and remove their
oars from the swivel while the other side (on the shore) hold the riggers of the boat for
stability.
Bowside/strokeside holding the boat strokeside/bowside one foot out…
together
The remainder of the crew disembarks in the same manner as their crew mates. While
holding the boat the rowers may remove their own oars from the swivels, but this is best
done after everybody has disembarked.
Strokeside/bowside hands across. bowside/strokeside under
As with embarking, one side holds the boat while the other passes underneath to
distribute the crew evenly on both sides of the boat.
Throwing the boat, strokeside/bowside moving, are you ready.. up/lift…down
As with embarking, only this time the boat is usually lowered first to shoulders and each
rower moves to be on the opposite side of the boat to his rigger when it is lowered with
the bottom side up.
Commencing paddling
{ Paddling light
}
Come forward }___ { Half pressure
}___ Are you ready?___Paddle
Backstops
}
{ Three-quarter pressure }
{ Paddling firm
}
On the command “Come forward” the crew adopts the “frontstops” position (q.v.). On the
command “Backstops” it adopts the backstops position. On the “are you ready?” a crew
at frontstops squares its oars and buries the blade ready to take the first stroke. Motion
begins on the word “paddle”.
Changing pace
Next stroke…paddle firm/paddle light/half pressure/three-quarter
pressure/row/easy all
The command is given in the rhythm of the rowing, so that “next “,”half”, “three-quarter”,
“paddle” and “easy” are spoken as the rowers take the catch whereas “stroke” “light”,
“firm”, “pressure” and “row” are spoken at the finish. “Row” is exceptional in that it does
not have a word spoken on the second catch of the sequence.
When the crew “easies” it is normal to stop in the “hands away” position (q.v.)
Unwind (after a hard row)
Spoken on the catch of the stroke.
Racing Start
Attention… Go
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Glossary of Rowing Terminology
Stopping
Easy (to individuals or groups responding to a command e.g. paddle on bow)
Easy all (to all those paddling or executing a command)
The “E” of Easy is spoken on the catch and the “All” on the finish. From paddling the
rowers stop at the “Hands Away” position, with the hands close to the saxboard and
hence the blades off the water.
Drop/lower
Rowers should normally “easy” to the Hands Away position with the blades off the water.
This command then allows them to lower the blade until it is floating, feathered, on the
water
Take the run off
On this command the rowers should turn the oar slightly on to the “square”, holding the
oar with straight arms and exerting pressure against the water, hence slowing the boat
down.
Hold her up/all / stop her
This is similar to taking the run off but more severe. The blade is turned further on to the
“square” and more pressure is needed to actually bring the boat to a halt
Hold her hard
This is the emergency stop of rowing. The action is the same as “Hold her up” but with
more urgency, and the rower may prefer to let the oar come up to the chest so that the
arms do not have to be braced The rower must be careful not to catch a “crab”. The
blade can be turned “reverse square” as if for backing down.
Turning
Paddle on strokeside/bowside
Can also be applied to individuals or smaller groups e.g. “paddle on 2 and 4.
Back her down strokeside/bowside
Can also be applied to individuals or smaller groups e.g. “back her down 7 and 5.
Change
Used when paddling on or backing her down with all of bowside/strokeside. For example,
if strokeside are paddling on, on “Change” strokeside will easy and bowside will start to
back her down..
Spinning the boat, alternate strokes, backing her down strokeside/bowside…
go
The crew will alternate without further prompting. Can be varied at any time by saying,
for example “Two strokes bowside”, whereupon the commanded rowers will for one
instance take two strokes instead of one.
Manoeuvring when stationary
Touch her bow/2/3 etc.
The named rowers will take one stroke. The required pressure may be called for e.g.
“Touch her lightly bow” or “One firm stroke bow”.
Paddle on bow/2/3 etc.
The named rowers will continue to paddle until told to “easy”.
Back her down stroke and 6 etc
The named rowers will continue to back her down until told to “easy”.
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Glossary of Rowing Terminology
Paddling Exercises
Square-blade paddling...Go
The rowers should leave the blades square on the recovery. This is a useful exercise to
ensure the finish of the stroke is executed properly with the blades extracted.
Feather
This is the command to return to normal paddling after square-blade paddling.
Fixed seat paddling…Go
The rowers keep their knees locked down, using only the arms and body swing for the
recovery.
¼, ½, ¾ slide
The rowers use the fraction of the slide during recovery as commanded.
Single strokes..easying at hands away…go
After each stroke the rowers stop at the hands away position, awaiting another “Go”
before they take the next stroke. The number of strokes can be varied e.g. “Two
strokes…Go” and the easying position can also vary – the finish/ body swing / ¾ slide.
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Glossary of Rowing Terminology
Boat Terminology
Backstops The end of the slide closer to the bow of the boat. See also Rowing
Bow
Terminology.
The forward-facing end of the boat in the normal direction of travel.
Also the name given to the crew member nearest the bows
The ball attached to the bow of a boat as a safety measure
For a rower facing the stern this is the left-hand side. For a coxswain
facing forward it is the right. See also Stroke-side
Bow ball / bobble
Bow-side
(Starboard)
Breakwater/cutwater The V-shaped board behind bow’s seat aimed at preventing waves
from splashing into the boat
Canvas The watertight compartment at either end of the boat (originally a
canvas covering but nowadays a moulded part of the hull)
Fin A protrusion beneath the boat towards the stern which gives the boat
Frontstops
Gate
Lateral pitch
Pin
Pitch
Rigger/outrigger
Rudder
Saxboard/gunwale
Seat
Shoes (height and
rake)
Slide / runners
Span
Spread
Stateroom
Stern
Stretcher
stability in the direction of travel and assists steering. Without a fin, a
racing boat is almost impossible to steer.
The end of the slide closer to the stern of the boat. See also Rowing
Terminology.
The top part of the swivel which opens to allow an oar to be inserted
and locks closed to keep the oar in place
The angle between the vertical and the pin, measured in a plane at
right angles to the main axis of the boat. See also Vertical pitch.
What the swivel rotates on. The pin transmits the rower’s energy
from the oar to the boat via the rigger.
The angle between the vertical and the tip of the blade. The pitch of
the blade will vary through a stroke depending on the lateral and
vertical pitch settings. These are normally set up by the boatbuilder,
but may be adjusted by a competent coach.
The structure overhanging the sides of the boat which supports the
oars or scull
The steering mechanism, usually concealed beneath the boat next to
or near the fin in a modern racing boat
The sides of a boat, conventionally thicker than the skin, to which the
riggers are (conventionally) attached
What you sit on. This has wheels underneath to allow it to move up
and down the slide
Most racing boats have shoes fitted to give the rower a flexible but
secure connection to the boat. The height and rake may usually be
adjusted to suit the needs of a particular crew, but would normally be
set up by the coach. The heels of the shoe have their movement
restricted by cords or thongs called heel restraints. These are a
safety feature to facilitate removal of the feet from the shoes in the
unlikely event of a capsize. The Velcro fastenings on the shoes also
help in this circumstance.
The rails beneath the seat along which the wheels of the seat run
In a sculling boat this is the distance between the bowside pin and
the strokeside pin
In a sweep-oar boat this is the distance from the centre line of the
boat to the centre of the pin, measured at right angles to the main
axis of the boat
The middle section of the boat where the oarsman or woman sits
The rear-facing end of the boat in the normal direction of travel
The cross member to which the rower’s shoes are attached. Its
position is adjustable to suit the physique of the rower.
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Glossary of Rowing Terminology
Stroke The crew position nearest to the stern of a boat, excluding the
Stroke-side (port)
swivel
Vertical pitch
Work
Work, Height of
coxswain. The person sitting in this position is responsible for setting
the rhythm and pace of the boat
For a rower facing the stern this is the right-hand side. For a
coxswain facing forward it is the left. Conventionally in a sweep-oar
boat the oar of the “Stroke” is on this side. Apart from “Bow” all other
positions in the boat are referred to by numbers, so that the full
complement is Bow, 2, 3, 4,5, etc. … , Stroke. See also Bow-side.
The U-shaped device positioned at the outermost part of the rigger,
which rotates and holds the oar or scull in place
The angle between the vertical and the pin, or more usually the
swivel, measured in a plane parallel to the main axis of the boat. See
also pitch, lateral pitch
The distance, measured along the main axis of the boat, by which
the frontstops are closer to the stern than the pin.
The vertical distance between the sill of the swivel and the top of the
seat.
Oar Terminology
Blade / oar Blade can mean an oar (one per person) or scull (two per person)
Blade / spoon Also refers to the curved part of the oar or scull which is immersed in
Button
Cleaver
Gearing
Handle
Inboard
Leather
Loom
Macon
Outboard
Overall
Pitch
Scull
Sleeve/leather
Spade
Spoon
Sweep-oar / oar
the water and is often painted in club colours. Also known as the
spoon.
Projecting ring on the sleeve, which limits how far the oar can be
pushed out against the swivel.
Asymmetrical blade shape, which looks a little like a butcher’s cleaver
The ratio between the outboard part of the oar or scull and the
inboard part. The higher the gearing, the harder it is to pull the oar
through the water
The inboard part of an oar or scull, particularly the part at the end
which is gripped
The part of the oar which, when placed in the swivel, is on the inside
See Sleeve
That portion of the oar outboard between the blade and the button.
This is hollow, both in wooden and plastic oars.
A symmetric blade shape which was the racing standard from its
invention in the 1960s until it was superseded by the “cleaver” in the
1990s
The part of the oar which, when placed in the swivel, is on the outside
The length of the whole oar
The angle between the edge of the blade tip and the flat part of the
sleeve which is held against the pin when the oar is squared
An oar, shorter than the normal sweep-oar, used as a pair, one in each
hand, to propel a sculling boat (which can also be referred to as a
scull)
Originally made of leather (hence its archaic alternative name) but
nowadays made of plastic, this provides shaped surfaces which will
allow the oar to rest naturally in the squared or feathered position
A blade shape which briefly preceded the Macon in racing oar
development
See Blade
A long oar used in eights, fours and pairs where rowers have one
apiece. c.f. Scull where the rower (sculler) has two oars, known as
sculls. A sweep oar is usually just called an oar or blade.
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Glossary of Rowing Terminology
Rowing Terminology
Backstops Denotes one of the positions which is adopted by the crew
Beginning/catch
Bucket / bollock
Bum-shove
Catch
Cover
Crab
Digging / diving
Extraction
Feather
Finish
Fixed seat paddling
Frontstops
Gather
Hands away
© 2010 QuintinBoatClub
before commencing paddling. In this position the rower’s legs
are flat down with the knees locked, the rower is sitting in the
near-upright position they would adopt when finishing the
stroke and the oar is held into the chest with the blade on the
water and “squared” slightly off the feather.
The point in the rowing cycle when the blade enters the water
To rush up the slide in an uncontrolled manner, and arrive at
frontstops breathless and unbalanced. The ruder version is, in
my experience, the more commonly used.
A faulty technique whereby, when the leg-drive is applied, the
body is allowed to incline forward at a greater angle, absorbing
most of the thrust and thus wasting the potential of the
powerful leg muscles
See Beginning
A measure of the distance travelled by a boat in a stroke,
gauged by the puddles left by the oars in the water. The gap
between one set of puddles and the next is the “cover”. See
also Run
What you have caught if you fail to extract your blade from the
water at the end of the stroke. As the boat continues its
forward motion, roles are reversed and the water pushes the
rower rather than vice versa. Something has to give and it can
be painful when the oar hits the chest, and may even eject the
rower from the boat!
This describes the action of the oar going deeper in the water
than it should, either because it has not been squared properly
(see Undersquare) or because the rower is forcing it down
with his or her hands. Undersquaring is the most likely cause
of a crab
The point in the rowing cycle when the blade is taken out of
the water. The blade is extracted by pushing the hands
sharply down, before feathering. If the blade is feathered
before extraction a crab will ensue.
The act of turning the blade from the Square position so that
the spoon lies roughly horizontal, providing less wind
resistance and more clearance for the blade above the water.
Another name for extraction
Paddling without using the slide, keeping the knees locked
down.
Denotes one of the positions which is adopted by the crew
before commencing paddling, and is taken up on the
command “Come forward”. In this position the rower is sitting
as if about to take a stroke, with the seat at frontstops, the
body rocked over and the back braced in a strong position with
the arms outstretched. The blade is allowed to rest on the
water on the feather, but on the cox’s interrogation “Are you
ready?” is squared and buried in the water.
Another term for recovery.
A position adopted when ceasing rowing where the knees are
still locked and the hands are straight with the hands close to
the saxboard and the blade on the feather. Some body rock
may have been executed after straightening the arms,
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Glossary of Rowing Terminology
Hands, body, slide
No body swing / arms
only
Over-square
Puddle
Rating
Recovery
Run
Skying
Square
Stopping the boat
Stroke
¼, ½. ¾ slide
Under-square
Washing out
© 2010 QuintinBoatClub
depending on the preferences of your coach. It is also
possible to easy at other positions e.g. finish where the blade
has been cleared of the water and feathered but the hands
and oar handle rest at the top of the thighs with the handle still
tucked into the torso. You can also easy after executing the
body swing or even part-way up the slide. These additional
positions are usually only adopted as part of a technical
exercise.
The golden rule for coordinating the body movements during
the recovery.
A rowing cycle used as a training exercise where not only is
the slide not used but the body is not allowed to swing forward
as part of the recovery.
Describes a blade whose top edge is rotated too far past its
natural vertical position. If pressure is applied in the water on
an over-square blade the tendency will be for it to “wash out”,
riding up out of the water.
The turbulent swirl created when an oar or scull is pulled
through the water.
The number of strokes (complete rowing cycles) executed in a
minute.
The period in the rowing cycle between the finish (extraction)
of one stroke and the beginning (catch) of the next. This
important part of the cycle is when the rower composes his or
herself ready for the next stroke. The body should be relaxed
but with pressure exerted on the feet at all times. This is
probably the most technical part of the cycle and properly
executed will be the mark of a fast boat.
When the extraction has been completed the boat will (should)
continue its forward motion. This is known as the run and a
properly executed recovery will maximise the overall boat
speed by allowing the boat to “run”. A badly executed
recovery will “stop the boat”.
Instead of raising the hands to get the blade close to the water
ready for the catch, the rower’s hands are dropped and the
gap between blade and water increases. The rower is
“skying” the blade and will lose precious time and length of
stroke in getting the blade back down to the water.
The position of the oar at the catch and during the stroke.
Also the act of putting the oar into this position from the
feathered position.
Apart from its literal sense this means slowing the boat when it
is in motion by improperly executing the recovery and catch.
The part of the rowing cycle where the blade is being pulled
through the water.
Literally the fraction of the slide which is to be used when
performing certain training exercises.
Describes a blade whose top edge has not been rotated far
enough to its natural “square” position. There will be a
tendency for the blade to dig (see Digging)
Description of what is happening when the blade is allowed to
ride up out of the water before the best position for extraction
has been reached.
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