Rowing Vocab

BOW
Front end of the boat.

BLADES
The "paddle" at the end of the oar.

CATCH
The beginning of a stroke, when the blade enters the water.

COXSWAIN
Steers the boat using a rudder, executes race plan, encourages rowers.

COX BOX
Electronic device in boat that calculates the stroke rating.

CRAB
Any kind of oar-blunder in which the blade gets "stuck" in the water.

EIGHT
Eight people sweeping.

ERGOMETER
Rower machine/torture device used for training and testing of rowers on dryland.

FEATHERING
Turning the oar such that the blade is parallel to the water when not in the water.

FINISH
The end of the stroke, when the blade is about to exit the water.

FOUR
Four people sweeping.

OCTUPLE
Eight people sculling

PORT
Left side of the boat.

RIGGERS
Hardware projecting from boat that supports the oar.

SCULLING
Term for an individual rowing with two oars, often alone.

SLIDE
The tracks on which the rowers seat moves.

SQUARE BLADE
Blade perpendicular to the water; when in water, blade is squared.

STARBOARD
Right side of the boat

STERN
Back end of the boat

STROKE
Rower closest to stern; sets the pace for the other rowers.

STROKE RATING
Number of strokes rowed per minute.

SWEEPING
Term for individuals rowing with one oar (with others).

QUAD
Four people sculling.

--Kristin Elaine Meyer