StrokeCoach: A small electronic display that rowers attach in the boat to show the important race information like stroke rate and elapsed time. The stroke sets the rhythm for the boat others behind him must follow his cadence. Stroke: The rower who sits closest to the stern. The rower's shoes are bolted into the footrests. The stretcher consists of two inclined footrests that hold the rower's shoes. Stretcher or Foot-stretcher: Where the rower's feet go. Straight: Refers to a shell without a coxswain i.e. Stern: The rear of the boat the direction the rowers are facing. Starboard: Right side of the boat, while facing forward, in the direction of movement. Slide: The set of runners for the wheels of each seat in the boat. Shell: Can be used interchangeably with boat. Sculls: One of the two disciplines of rowing â€' the one where scullers use two oars or sculls. You can figure it by looking for the distance between the puddles made by the same oar. Run: The run is the distance the shell moves during one stroke. Rigger: The triangular shaped metal device that is bolted onto the side of the boat and holds the oars. Repechage: The second-chance race which ensures that everyone has two chances to advance from preliminary races since there is no seeding in the heats. It's a strategy used to pull ahead of a competitor. Power 10: A call for rowers to do 10 of their best, most powerful strokes. Port: Left side of the boat, while facing forward, in the direction of the movement. Oar: Used to drive the boat forward: rowers do not use paddles. Lightweight: Refers to the rowers, not the boats there is a maximum weight for each rower in a lightweight event as well as a boat average. 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. German rigging: A different way of setting up which side of the boat the oars are on in a sweep boat. Gate: The bar across the oarlock that keeps the oar in place. The international governing body for the sport of rowing in the world, established in 1892. The rowers' choice is the Concept II, which utilizes a flywheel and a digital readout so that the rower can measure his 'strokes per minute' and the distance covered.įISA: Short for Federation Internationale des Societes d'Aviron. Having the coxswain virtually lying down in the bow reduces wind resistance, and the weight distribution is better.īutton: A wide collar on the oar that keeps it from slipping through the oarlock.Ĭoxswain: Person who steers the shell and is the on-the-water coach for the crew.ĭeck: The part of the shell at the bow and stern that is covered with fiberglass cloth or a thin plastic.Įrgometer: Rowers call it an 'erg.' It's a rowing machine that closely approximates the actual rowing motion. It's hard to see the coxswain in this type of boat, because only his head is visible.

The person in the seat closest to the bow, who crosses the finish line first.īow coxed boat: A shell in which the coxswain is near the bow instead of the stern. The first part of the boat to cross the finish line. Learn these terms, and you'll be well on your way to becoming well-versed in the 'language of rowing.'īow: The forward section of the boat.

Power 10, coxswain, repechage, what? Following you'll find a collection of terms specific to the sport of rowing.

Exc lingo meaning