Rowing is a sport that demands precision, balance, and teamwork, and the equipment used plays a critical role in performance. Modern rowing equipment is designed to reduce drag, enhance speed, and provide optimal control on the water. Below is a detailed overview of the key equipment used in rowing.
Boats (Shells)
Racing boats, commonly called shells, are long, narrow, and designed to reduce drag. These boats are broadly semi-circular in cross-section to enhance speed, though they trade some stability for speed. Shells typically feature a fin towards the rear, which helps prevent roll and yaw while increasing the effectiveness of the rudder for steering.
Originally constructed from wood, modern shells are now made from lightweight composite materials, such as carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, which offers strength and weight advantages. FISA (the International Rowing Federation) mandates minimum boat weights to ensure fair competition, so that no team gains a significant advantage through the use of advanced materials.
Boat Classifications:
- Number of rowers: Boats may hold 1, 2, 4, or 8 rowers.
- Position of coxswain (cox): Boats can be coxless (straight), bow-coxed (bowloaders), or stern-coxed.
Types of Boats:
- Sweep rowing: Coxless pair (2-), coxed pair (2+), coxless four (4-), coxed four (4+), and eight (8+).
- Sculling: Single scull (1x), double scull (2x), quadruple scull (4x), and octuple scull (8x), which is primarily for juniors or exhibitions.
Oars
Oars, or “blades,” are used to propel the boat through the water. They are long poles, with the sculling oars being between 250–300 cm and sweep oars between 340–360 cm in length. Each oar has a flat blade at the end, which can be up to 50 cm long and 25 cm wide. Modern oars are typically made from carbon fiber for strength and lightness.
In rowing terminology:
- In sweep rowing, each rower holds a single oar.
- In sculling, each rower uses two oars.
The blades are often painted in the colors of the rower’s club or team, aiding in easy identification during races.
Steering
Single, double, and quadruple sculls are generally steered by rowers pulling harder on one side. In larger boats, steering is controlled by the coxswain using a rudder, or by one of the crew members, using a foot-controlled system attached to the rudder.
Indoor Rowing
Indoor rowing is used for training when outdoor conditions are unfavorable, or when rowable water is unavailable. There are two primary methods for indoor training:
- Rowing Tanks: Rowing tanks mimic the conditions rowers face on the water, and are used for off-season training and technique development. These tanks are especially helpful for training muscles specific to rowing and refining technique.
- Ergometers: Rowing machines, often referred to as ergs, simulate the rowing motion and are a key tool for indoor rowing. Ergs allow rowers to train technique and strength by mimicking on-water rowing. Popular models, such as Concept2 and RP3, provide realistic rowing experiences. While they do not perfectly replicate the challenges of rowing on water (like lateral balance and the feel of water resistance), they are an essential tool for rowers during the off-season and are often used for competitions like the CRASH-B Sprints.
Slide Systems: Some ergometers can be placed on slides, which allows the machine to move back and forth smoothly, simulating the movement of a boat on water. This system can be connected in rows, encouraging rowers to synchronize their movements, much like they would on water.