Sections of crew in an VIII
Basic combinations
Bow side = the odd numbers in the boat: Bow, 3, 5, 7
Stroke side = the even numbers: Stroke, 6, 4, 2
Bow 4four = Bow, 2, 3, 4
Stern 4 = Stroke, 7, 6, 5
Advanced combinations
Stern six = stroke, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3,
Bow six = Bow, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Stern four and bow pair = Stroke, 7, 6, 5, 2, Bow
Bow four and stern pair = Bow, 2, 3, 4, 7, stroke
Middle four = 3, 4, 5, 6
Outside 4 = Bow, 2, 7, Stroke
Types of boats
The most common type of boat seen on the Cam are VIII+s, although due to costs and needing to have a cox and nine rowers, in other clubs they are not as common.
Sweep = one blade each
Sculling = two blades each
+ = with cox, – = coxless
| Sweep rowing | Sculling | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 persons + 1 cox | Eight (8+) | Octuple (8x+) |
| 4 persons + 1 cox | Coxed Four (4+) | Coxed Quadruple (4x+) |
| 4 persons, no cox | Coxless Four (4-) | Quadruple (4x-) |
| 2 persons | Pair (2-) | Double (2x) |
| 1 person | *impossible* | Single scull (1x) |
Rowing Commands and Terms
- Square blades – blade is at 90 degrees to the water
- Hold it up – blade is in the water, square. Used in an emergency to stop the boat.
- Easy there – blade is flat on water
- Take the run – blade is at 30 degrees on top of the water, slowing the boat down a little
- Feathering – movement of blade within the stroke from square during the drive and at the catch to parallel to the water during the recovery period
- Tap – a very light stroke
- Stroke – movement of the blade in the water to produce movement when driven in the stroke
- Spoon – bit of the blade that goes in the water
- Backstops – position in the boat with your back tilted backwards, straight legs, and handle located at the chest level
- Frontstops – position in the boat with legs bent and shins at 90 degrees to the boat, arms straight out in front, back tilted forwards
- Sitting the boat – position at around 1/4 slide where one cradles the blade handle and holds the side of the boat, putting light pressure on the water with a flat blade to help balance the boat when not rowing full crew