MHS Crew Facts

MHS Crew Crest

How to Watch a Race

The crew that's making it look easy is most likely the one doing the best job. While you're watching, look for continuous, fluid motion of the rowers. Here's what to watch for:

Clean catches of the oar blade. If you see a lot of splash, the oar blades aren't entering the water correctly. The catch should happen at the end of the recovery, when the hands are as far ahead of the rower as possible. Rowers who uncoil before they drop the oar blades are sacrificing speed and not getting a complete drive.
Even oar blade feathering. When the blades come out of the water, they should move horizontally close to the water at the same height. It's not easy, especially if the water is rough.
The most consistent speed. Shells don't move like a car- they're slowest at the catch, quickest at the release.
Race times can vary considerably depending upon the course and weather conditions. Tailwinds will improve times, while headwinds and crosswinds will hamper them.
If a crew "catches a crab," it means the oar blade entered the water at an angle instead of perpendicularly. The oar blade gets caught under the surface and will low to stop a shell.
A "Power 10" is a call by the coxswain for 10 of the crew's best, most powerful strokes.
A Coxswains job is to implement the coach's strategy during the race, in addition to steering and letting the rowers know where they stand in the race and what they need to do to win.

Rowing looks graceful, elegant and sometimes effortless when it's done well. Don't be fooled. Rowers haven't been called the world's most physically-fit athletes for nothing. A 2,000 meter rowing race demands virtually everything a human being can physically bring to an athletic competition - aerobic ability, technical talent, exceptional mental discipline, ability to utilize oxygen efficiently and in huge amounts, balance, pain tolerance, and the ability to continue to work when the body is demanding that you stop.

How to Determine Stroke Rates

The stroke rate is the number of strokes a crew takes per minute.

If eight strokes takes 20 seconds, the rate is 24.
If eight strokes takes 17 seconds, the rate is 28.
If eight strokes takes 16 seconds, the rate is 30.
If eight strokes takes 15 seconds, the rate is 32.
If eight strokes takes 14 seconds, the rate is 34.
If eight strokes takes 13 seconds, the rate is 36.
If eight strokes takes 12 seconds, the rate is 40.

Crew


	Glossary of Rowing Terms
	Bow: The forward section of the boat. The first part of the boat to cross the finish line.
	Bow coxed boat: A shell in which the coxswain is near the boat instead of the stern.
	Coxswain: Person who steers the shell and is the on-the-water coach for the crew.
	Deck: The part of the shell at the bow and stern that is covered with fiberglass cloth or a thin plastic.
	Ergo meter: Rowers call it an "erg." A rowing machine that closely approximates the actual rowing motion.
	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.
	Oar: Used to drive the boat forward;: rowers do not use paddles.
	Port: Left side of the boat, while facing forward, in the direction of the movement.
	Power 10: A call for rowers to do 10 of their best, most powerful strokes. It's a strategy used to pull ahead of a competitor.
	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.
	Rigger: The triangular shaped metal device that is bolted onto the side of the boat and holds the oars.
	Run: The run in the distance the shell moves during one stroke. You can figure it by looking for the distance between the puddles made by the same oar.
	Sculls: One of the two disciplines of rowing - the one where scullers use two oars or sculls.
	Shells: 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 the direction of movement.
	Stern: The rear of the boat; the direction the rowers are facing.
	Straight: Refers to a shell without a coxswain i.e. a straight four or straight pair.
	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: The rower who sits closest to the stern. The stroke sets the rhythm for the boat; others behind him must follow his cadence.
	Sweep: One of the two disciplines of rowing - the one where rowers use only one oar. Pair (for two people), fours (for four people) and the eight are sweep boats. Pairs and fours may or may not have a coxswain. Eights always have a coxswain.
	Swing: The hard-to-define feeling when near-perfect synchronization of motion occurs in the shell, enhancing the performance and speed.