In competitive rowing, the following specialized terms are important in the corresponding aspects of the sport:
Boat classes
In competitive rowing events, abbreviations are used for different boat classes.
Weight L, LWT or Lt: Lightweight rowing If not present the crew is open weight
Age J: Junior(Under 19 years of age) B: Senior B (Under 23 years of age) Masters: over 27, includes a letter designation for the average age of the crew: A – 27 years of age and older B – 36 years of age and older C – 43 years of age and older D – 50 years of age and older E – 55 years of age and older F – 60 years of age and older G – 65 years of age and older H – 70 years of age and older I – 75 years of age and older J – 80 years of age and older If none of these abbreviations are present the crew is Senior A These age categories are effectively common to both FISA (Bye-Law to Rule 27) and USRowing (Rule 4–104) rules. USRowing also designates a AA category for ages 21–26, and defines Masters as over 21 rather than 27. There are no age restrictions for coxswains and their age is not factored into the average age of the crew.
Gender M: Men's W: Women's Mixed: Equal numbers of either gender (excluding coxswain)
Crew Size 1, 2, 4, 8: The number of rowers in the crew. It is common to use Roman numerals, especially when referring to a VIII.
Discipline x: Sculling boat If not present then the boat is sweep-oar
Coxswain +: Coxed (with coxswain) -: Coxless (without coxswain) If not present then the boat is coxless, except for an eight.
Examples
M8+ = Men's eight W4- = Women's coxless four (or "straight four") LM2- = Lightweight men's coxless pair BM1x = Men's single sculls under age 23 JW4x = Junior women's quad Masters WC2x = Masters women's double sculls with average crew age between 43–49 Mixed Masters 8+ = Eight with 4 women and 4 men as rowers and a coxswain of either gender
Athletes
Ambidextrous (UK) and bisweptual (US) A rower who can row both on port side and starboard side. Bow (or bow seat) The rower closest to the front or bow of a multi-person shell. In coxless boats, often the person who keeps an eye on the water behind them to avoid accidents. Bowside (UK) Any sweep rower who rows with the oar on the bowside (usually, the right or starboard side) of the boat. Coxswain or "cox" The oar-less crew-member, usually included, who is responsible for steering and race strategy. The coxswain either sits in the stern or lies in the bow of the boat, and faces in the direction of travel. Engine room The middle rowers in the boat. In an 8-person shell, these are generally the rowers in seats 6, 5, 4 and 3. They are generally the biggest and strongest rowers, who provide most of the power to the boat. Also called Power House.
Hammer A rower known more for their powerful pulling rather than technical rowing proficiency. Heavyweight A rower who weighs more than the limit for lightweight rowing. Often referred to as Open weight. Lightweight A rower whose weight allows them to be eligible to compete in lightweight rowing events. Novices or novicing Rowers who are rowing for their first year, or (in the UK) a rower who has not won a qualifying regatta. Port (US) A sweep rower who rows with the oar on the port or left side of the boat. This means that the oar blade is placed to the rower's right side.
Sculler A rower who rows with two oars, one in each hand. Seat number A rower's position in the boat counting up from the bow. In an eight, the person closest to the bow of the boat is 1 or "bow," the next is 2, followed by 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and finally 8 or "stroke." In certain countries the seats are numbered the opposite way, from stroke up to bow. Starboard (US) A sweep rower who rows with the oar on the starboard or right side of the boat. This means that the oar blade is placed to the rower's left side. Stroke or stroke seat The rower closest to the stern of the boat, responsible for the stroke rate and rhythm. Stroke side (UK) Any sweep rower who rows with the oar on the stroke side (usually, the left or port side) of the boat. Sweep A style of rowing in which each rower uses one oar. Wash The wake from a motorized boat, disliked by rowers as the wash affects the boat stability and can cause water to flood over the gunwales.
Boats Sometimes called "shells" in the US
Sweep In a sweep boat, each rower has one oar. Eight (8+) A shell with 8 rowers. Along with the single scull, it is traditionally considered to be the blue ribbon event. Always with coxswain because of the size, weight and speed of the boat – bow loader eights exist but are banned from most competitions for safety reasons. Four (4-) or (4+) A shell with 4 rowers. Coxless fours (4-) are often referred to as straight fours, and are commonly used by lightweight and elite crews and are raced at the Olympics. In club and school rowing, one more frequently sees a coxed four (4+) which is easier to row, and has a coxswain to steer. Pair (2-) or (2+) A shell with 2 rowers. The Coxless pair (2-), often called a straight pair, is a demanding but satisfying boat to master. Coxed pairs (2+) are rarely rowed by most club and school programs. It is no longer an Olympic class event, but it continues to be rowed at the World Rowing Championships.
Sculling In a sculling boat, each rower has two oars or 'sculls', one on each side of the boat. Octuple (8x) A shell having 8 rowers with two oars each. Generally a training boat, but raced by juniors in the UK. Quad (4x) A shell having 4 rowers with two oars each. Can be coxed (4x+) but is usually coxless (4x-). Triple (3x) A shell for three scullers with two oars each, usually without a coxswain. These boats are considerably rare. Double (2x) A shell for two scullers generally without a coxswain. Single (1x) A shell designed for an individual sculler. Very good for skill development, particularly beginners, and a very competitive class at world events, WRC. Extremely rare is the coxed single which is only used as a training boat or for adaptive rowing.
Open-water boat A shell with positive flotation, self-bailing capacity, a non-binding stretcher, and no forestay so re-entry is easier. These boats are generally shorter and wider at the waterline than boats designed for flat-water racing.
Equipment, parts of the boat Rigging is how the boat is outfitted, including all of the apparatuses (oars, outriggers, oarlocks, sliding seats, etcetera) attached to a boat that allow the rower to propel the boat through the water. The term comes from an old Old English wrigan or wrihan, which means "to clothe." It literally means to outfit or clothe a boat. Rigging also refers to the configuration of the boat and settings of the apparatuses. The following terms are often associated with a boat's rigging, along with other often used terms for equipment used in rowing.
Backstay A brace which is part of the rigger of sweep rowing boats, which extends toward the bow from the top of the pin. Backstop The stop mechanism on the seat slides which prevents the rower's seat from falling off the sliding tracks at the back end (towards the boat's bow) of the slide tracks. Also, in the UK, the sliding seat position closest to the boat's bow. As a command, it instructs the crew to adopt this position. (The US calls this seat position the "back end"). Blade The spoon or hatchet/cleaver shaped end of the oar. Also used to refer to the entire oar. Bowloader / bowcox / bow steered A shell in which the coxswain seat is near the bow of the boat rather than its stern. The seat in a bow loader partially enclosed and is designed so that the coxswain is virtually lying down, in order to reduce wind resistance and distribute the coxswain's weight so as to create a lower center of gravity. Bow The front section of a shell; the first section of the shell to cross the finish line. Bow ball A soft, colored ball no smaller than 4 cm diameter securely attached to a rowing or sculling boat's bow. Primarily intended for safety (preventing the tip of the bow from hitting other things), but also used in deciding which boat crossed the finish line first in very close races. Bow number A card displaying the lane number assigned to the boat for a race. Bow rigged (UK) The person stroking the boat has their oar on the bowside (starboard or right) rather than the usual strokeside of the boat. Bowside (UK) The [starboard] or right side of a boat. Derives from the tradition of having the bow rower's oar be on the starboard or right side of the boat.
Bucket rigged a way of rigging a boat so that a pair of rowers both row on the same side of the boat, contrary to rigging on alternate sides. In eights, double and triple buckets are possible (variants also known as German rigged, Italian rigged or tandem-rigged).
Canvas The deck of the bow and stern of the boat, which were traditionally covered with canvas. Cleaver blade Modern oar blades that have a more rectangular hatchet-shape. (also hatchet blade) Collar / Button A wide plastic ring placed around the sleeve of an oar. The button stops the oar from slipping through the oarlock. Cox box Portable voice amplifier; may also optionally incorporate digital readouts displaying stroke rate, boat speed and times. Coxmate A portable amplification device, similar to a coxbox, incorporating a digital readout. Higher-end models may also have a built in radio and speed sensor. Empacher slot A UK term for the clip on the top of the bow for holding racing number plates. Ergometer (also ergo or erg) An indoor rowing machine. Foot stretcher An adjustable footplate, to which a pair of shoes is typically attached, which allows the rower to easily adjust their physical position relative to the slide and the oarlock. The footplate can be moved (or "stretched") either closer to or farther away from the slide frontstops. (also "Footplate", "Footchock", "Footstop", or "Stretcher")
Frontstop The stop mechanism on the seat slides which prevents the rower's seat from falling off the sliding tracks at the front end (towards the boat's stern) of the slide tracks. Also, in the UK, the sliding seat position closest to the boat's stern. As a command, it instructs the crew to adopt this position. (The US calls this seat position the "front end") Gate (UK) Bar across the top of rowlock, secured with a nut, which prevents the oar from coming out of the rowlock. Also historically used to refer to the oarlock or rowlock. Swivel (US)
Gunwales (pronounced: gunnels) The top rail of the shell (also called Saxboard) Handle The part of the oar that the rowers hold and pull with during the stroke. Hatchet blade Modern oar blades that have a more rectangular hatchet-shape and which are not symmetrical. (also cleaver blade) Hull The actual body of the shell. Inboard The length of the oar shaft measured from the button (or from the pin) to the handle. Keelson A structure timber resembling the keel, but on the inside of the shell. Launch A motorboat used by rowing instructors, coaches or umpires. Referred to as a "coach boat" in Canada. Leather/sleeve A thick piece of leather (plastic on modern oars) around the oar to keep the oar lock from wearing out the shaft of the oar (typically wood or carbon fiber). Lines The ropes held by the coxswain to control the rudder. Loom The part of the oar between the blade and the handle. Macon blade Traditional U-shaped oar blade. (also spoon blade and tulip) Oar A slender pole which is attached to a boat at the Oarlock. One end of the pole, called the "handle," is gripped by the rower, the other end has a "blade," which is placed in the water during the propulsive phase of the stroke.