Rowing Terminology

Glossary of Common Rowing Terms:

Balance: Every rower tries to achieve this feeling. It is achieved when the boat is on an even keel. 

Blade: Another name for an oar.

Bow: The rower in the front (i.e. the direction the boat is moving while rowing) of a multi-person boat.

Bow Ball: An essential small soft ball no smaller than 4 cm in diameter, securely attached to the bow end of a boat. These are primarily used for safety. 

Bow Side: Starboard side. The sweep boat rower has an oar out on the left side.

Catch: The part of the stroke where the blade enters the water. 

Crab: A rowing error, in which the blade is pushed under the water and becomes caught in the flow of the water past the boat. It is referred to as “catching a crab” This always results in slowing the boat down and can even throw the rower out of the boat. Every rower catches one at some stage. 

Coxswain: The person responsible for steering the boat and for race strategy.

Coxbox/Cox: A Portable voice amplifier that also can give stroke rates and race speed.

Drive: The part of the rowing stroke when the rower applies the power in sequence which starts with the legs.

Ergs: short name for Ergometer or rowing machine.

Feather: To turn the oar so that it is parallel to the water. 

Finish: The last part of the drive before the release, where the power is mainly coming from the body and hands. 

Footplate: The piece of the boat on which the rower’s feet are attached, usually in shoes.

Foot Stretcher: Allows adjustment of the footplate for different-sized rowers.

Front Stop: The sliding seat position closest to the stern. This is the position you are in at the catch. 

Gate: Another name for oarlock.

Gunwales: (Pronounced gunnels) the top rib of the shell.

Height: Term used for the distance between the seat and the gate.

Layback: The amount of backward lean of the rower’s body at the end of the finish.

Oar Lock: The rectangular lock at the end of the rigger that holds the oar in place while allowing it to pivot and lock in the feather or square position.

Rating: Number of strokes the crew takes per minute (also stroke rate.)

Ratio: The relationship between the time taken during the propulsive and recovery phases of the rowing stroke.

Recovery: Part of the rowing cycle after the release when the rower is moving up the slide.

Release: A drop tap down (and away) motion of the hand which allows the oar to come out of the water.

Rigger: The frame that holds the oarlock/gate and can be adjusted for gearing purposes.

Rigging/De-rigging: Putting together or taking apart a boat. 

Set up off the Back: The hands out body over movement before the rower begins movement up the slide. 

Sculling: A sculler uses two oars to propel the boat. Scullers use smaller oars.

Shell/Skiff: Another name used for a boat.

Slides: Hollow rails that allow the seat to slide backwards and forwards.

Slide Control: The nice smooth movement up the slide at a controlled speed.

Span: Distance between oarlocks. It can be adjusted to alter gearing. 

Squaring Up: The gradual rolling of the blade from the feather to the square, which is accomplished during the recovery. The blade should be square when it enters the water. 

Stroke: The rower in the back (i.e., the direction the boat is moving while rowing) of a multi-person boat.  The Stroke is responsible for the rowing crew and is considered the skipper of the skiff. 

Stroke Side: Port side. The sweep boat rower has an oar out on the right side.

Sweeper/Rower: This is a rower who uses one oar, and it is much bigger than a scull.

Washing Out: Not fully recovering the blade during the whole stroke.

Winning: Every rower will learn about this.