Jargon buster

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