Free An Introduction to Rowing by HL Fourie Page B

of the stern. It is hard to see the coxswain in this type of boat, because only his head is visible. Having the coxswain virtually lying down in the bow reduces wind resistance, and the weight distribution is better.
    Button
    A wide collar on the oar that keeps it from slipping through the oarlock.
    Catch
    The point in the stroke at which the oar blade is placed into the water. This marks the beginning of the drive and the end of the recovery.
    Catch angle
    The catch angle is the oar angle at the catch position. See oar angle.
    CLAM
    Clip-on Load Adjustment Method. This is a shim that clips over the sleeve of an oar on the outboard side of the collar to reduce the gearing or load of an oar.
    Cockpit
    The part of the boat in which the rowers sit.
    Collar
    See Button.
    Course
    A straight area of a body of water, typically four to eight lanes wide, marked with buoys for rowing competitions. An Olympic course is 2000 meters. High school races are usually 1500 meters. A head race has a much longer course (three miles or more) usually following a winding river.
    Coxswain
    This is the person who steers the shell and directs the crew. Also called the cox'n or cox.
    Cox box
    A battery-operated electronic device that includes a digital stroke rate monitor, an elapsed time readout and a voice amplifier. The coxswain uses the cox box to monitor the race and to make his or her commands more audible to the crew. The coxswain typically wears a head-mounted microphone, which is connected to the cox box.
    Crab, or Catch a Crab
    This occurs at the end of a drive when an oar gets stuck below the water and it is difficult to get out. This can lead to the rower getting ejected from the boat.
    Crossover
    In sculling, this is when the one oar handle crosses over the other handle during the drive and recovery.
    Drive
    That portion of the stroke when the blades are in the water and the rower is pulling on the oar handles.
    Deck
    The part of the shell at the bow and stern that is covered with fiberglass cloth or thin plastic.
    Engine room
    The biggest and strongest rowers in the middle seats in the boat. In an eight, these are seats 3, 4, 5 and 6.
    Ergometer
    Also called a rowing machine or "erg". It simulates the actual rowing motion and is used for training.
    Feathering
    The act of twisting the oar to position the blade vertically for the drive and horizontally for the recovery.
    FISA
    Federation Internationale des Societes d'Aviron (International Federation of Rowing Societies). The international governing body for the sport of rowing in the world, established in 1892.
    Frontstop
    A stop at stern end of the track that the rower's seat slides on. The wheels of the seat should almost reach the frontstop at the catch of each stroke.
    Gate
    The bar across the oarlock that keeps the oar in place.
    German rigging
    A different way of setting up which side of the boat the oars are on in a sweep boat. Instead of alternating from side to side all the way down, in a German rigged boat, two consecutive rowers have oars on the same side.
    Grips
    Rubber caps on the inboard (handle) end of the oars.
    Gunwale
    The upper edge of the hull to which the riggers are bolted. Pronounced "gun-el".
    Head Race
    This is a timed race where the crews start at intervals and chase each other along the course.
    Heat
    A qualifying race within a specific race category. For example, men's varsity eight (MV8).
    Heavyweight
    The weight class in men's rowing for rowers over the lightweight restriction.
    Hull
    The external body of the shell.
    Inboard
    The distance from the butt of oar handle to the inside edge side of the collar.
    Inside hand
    The sweep boat rower's hand that is closest to the rigger. The sweep boat rower uses the inside hand to feather the oar. When rowing at port, the right hand is the inside hand, and when rowing at starboard the left hand is the inside hand.
    Layback
    The amount of reverse pivot of a rower's torso from the hips during the last third of the drive for