Boat positions (sport rowing)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In all boats, with the exception of single sculls, each rower is numbered in sequential order from the bow to the stern. The person who is seated on the first seat is always the bowman, or more commonly called just the bow. Note - there are some exceptions to this - UK coastal rowers number from stern to bow and this is also the standard in France and Spain.
In addition to this, certain crew members have other titles and roles.
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[edit] Stern Pair
The "Stroke" is the rower closest to the stern of the boat. Everyone else follows the stroke's timing - placing their blades in and out of the water at the same time. The strokeman can communicate with the coxswain (when in a stern coxed boat) to give feedback on how the boat feels. During a race, it is the stroke's responsibility to establish a consistent rate and rhythm. (In coxed boats, the coxswain will assist the stroke in establishing the rate). Because of the great responsibilities, the rower in the stroke seat will usually be one of the most technically sound members of the boat. In smaller boats that do not have a coxswain, the stroke may also be responsible for steering since they are closest to the skeg (also known as a "fin") and can "get a point" from which the stroke can judge on the direction of the boat.
The next rower ('Seven' in an eight), sits directly behind stroke and is typically both fit and skilled, this rower acts as a buffer between the stroke and the rest of the crew. They closely follow the rhythm set by the strokeman which helps transmit this rhythm to the rest of the boat. If the strokeman increases or decreases the stroke rate it is essential that seven follow this change of rate so that it is translated to the rest of the crew.
[edit] Middle Crew
The middle rowers of a crew (nos. 2 and 3 in a four and 3, 4, 5 and 6 in an eight) are normally the most powerful and heaviest rowers, often called the Fuel Tank, Engine Room, or Meat Wagon. These rowers have less effect on the boat's stability, their movements and application of power have less effect on the pitch, roll and yaw, partly as the boat's center of mass is in the middle and it is also where the boat is at its widest and has the most displacement, then rowers at the bow & stern. Therefore, the rowers in the middle of the boat do not have to be as technically sound and can focus more on pulling as hard as they can. While none of the boat's crew can completely disregard their technique, it is common practice among crews to put the most technically proficient rowers at the bow and stern and the physically strongest rowers in the center.
[edit] Bow Pair
The rower closest to the bow of the boat, numbered "one" is usually called either "Bow" or "Bowman". In coxless boats, the bowman is often responsible for steering and giving calls to the crew. The bow pair of bow and "two", which are the two rowers closest to the boat's bow, are more responsible for the stability (called "set") of the boat than any other pair of rowers. This is due to the dynamics of racing shells, thus Bowmen are often very technical rowers. Boats that are bow coxed (see below) rely on communication between the bowman and the cox - as the cox cannot see boats coming up from behind. Bowmen tend to be the smallest of the rowers in the boat.
[edit] Coxswain (cox)
The role of a coxswain is to:
- Steer the boat
- Provide motivation and encouragement to the crew
- Inform the crew of where they are in relation to other crews and the finish line
- Make any necessary race tactic calls
A boat without a cox is known as a coxless or 'straight' boat. While coxless pairs and fours are commonplace, because of the speed and lack of manoeuvrability eights will always have a cox.
Some boats are bow coxed or 'bowloaders' with the coxswain lying in the bow behind the bowman rather than stern coxed or 'sternloader', with the coxswain sitting in the stern opposite the Stroke.
Coxswains used to communicate to the crew by shouting or through a megaphone that was strapped to their head, however starting in the late 1970s a "cox box" or speaker and microphone system made it so that even the bowman could hear the coxswain's commands. They are particularly important in bowloaders as the coxwain is facing away from the crew, making it hard for the crew to hear the coxwain’s commands unaided and as the coxswain cannot see what the crew are doing.
