GLOSSARY OF ROWING TERMS

GLOSSARY OF ROWING TERMS
Bow: The forward section of the boat. The bow is the first part of the boat to cross
the finish line.
Bow-seat or bow-person: The person in the seat closest to the bow.
Bow-coxed boat: A shell in which the coxswain is near the bow instead of the stern.
It’s hard to see the coxswain in this type of boat, because only her head is visible.
Having the coxswain lying down in the bow reduces wind resistance, better
stabilizes the boat, and better distributes weight within the shell.
Collar or button: A wide collar on the oar that keeps it from slipping through the
oarlock.
Coxswain: Person who steers the shell, implements strategy and tactics, and is the
eyes and ears for the crew. A boat with coxswain is “coxed” and is indicated by a
“+” in its abbreviation. A boat without coxswain is “coxless” or “straight” and is
indicated by a “-“ in its abbreviation.
Deck: The part of the shell at the bow and stern that is covered. It is often used to
describe a small winning margin (i.e., “they won by a deck”).
Drive: Phase of the stroke cycle when the oars are in the water and the rower(s)
drive the boat forward.
Ergometer or “erg”: A rowing machine that closely approximates the rowing
motion. The machine provides a digital readout that enables both workout
management and racing.
FISA: Abbreviation for Federation Internationale des Societes d’Aviron. Established
in 1892, FISA is the international governing body for the sport of rowing.
Oar: Used to drive the boat forward. Rowers do not use paddles.
Port: Left side of the boat, while facing forward. In rowing, the port is on the
rower(s) right hand since they face the stern.
Puddle: The vortex-type disturbance left in the water after the oar is extracted.
Recovery: Phase of the stroke cycle when the oars are out of the water and the
rower(s) prepare for the next drive.

Rigger: The apparatus that holds the oar outside the hull of the shell. Modern
riggers are typically made of either aluminum or carbon fiber and come in the
“wing” variety, which attached to a flange on the top of the boat, or the more
traditional “side-mount” variety, which attached to the side of the hull.
Run: The run is the distance the shell moves during the recovery phase. You can
figure the distance a shell moves in one stroke cycle by looking for the distance
between the puddles made by the same oar.
Scull(s): The smaller oars used in the discipline of sculling
Sculling: One of the two disciplines of rowing – the one where scullers use two
smaller oars or sculls. Singles (1x), doubles (2x) and quads (4x) are all sculling boats.
The “x” refers to sculling. Sculling boats are almost always without coxswain, with
coxed quad (4x+) being an exception used in many parts of the world, especially
among juniors.
Shell: Can be used interchangeably with boat.
Slide: The set of runners for the wheels of each seat in the boat.
Starboard: Right side of the boat, while facing forward. In rowing, the starboard is
on the rower(s) left hand since they face the stern.
Stern: The rear of the boat; the direction the rowers are facing.
Stretcher or Footstretcher: Where the rower’s feet go. The stretcher consists of
two inclined footrests that hold the rower’s shoes. The rower’s shoes are bolted
into the footrests.
Stroke-seat or stroke-person: The rower who sits closest to the stern. The stroke
initiates the timing and rhythm for the crew.
Sweep: Sometimes simply referred to as “rowing” (to differentiate from sculling),
sweep is one of the two disciplines of rowing – the one where rowers use only one
large oar. Pairs (2- or 2+), fours (4- or 4+) and the eight (8+) are sweep boats.
Swing: The movement of the body’s torso back and forth within the stroke cycle.
Swing most often refers to the movement of the torso during the recovery phase of
the stroke. The swing has much to do with the sense of rhythm that rowers feel in
the boat.