Technical Terms
The non-work phase of the stroke where the rower returns the oar from the release to the catch, the part of the stroke where the rower is moving up to the catch and the blade is out of the water.
Recovery
Pay attention, watch out.
Heads Up
The front section of the boat. The first part of a boat to cross a finish line.
Bow
The person in the boat responsible for steering, safety, motivating the crew, and race strategy.
Coxswain
To turn the oar so that its blade is parallel with the water.
Feather
Square the oars in the water to slow and/or stop the boat.
Check it down
The left side of the boat when facing forward.
Port or port side
A rower with the oar on the right side of the sweep boat.
Starboard
The part of the stroke at which the oar blade enters the water and the rower starts to apply power to move the boat.
Catch
Begin rowing
Ready all, Row
The framework projecting from the side of a racing shell.
Rigger
A rower's position in the boat counting from the bow.
Seat number
The very end of the stroke when the rower takes the blade out of the water and starts to move up the recovery to do it all again.
Finish
Reminds the rowers to keep the boat set.
Set it up
The right side of the boat when facing forward.
Starboard or starboard side
A rower who rows with the oar on the left side of the sweep boat.
Port
The propulsive portion of the stroke from the time the oar blade enters the water until it is removed from the water.
Drive
To have the rowers place their blades at the release position, squared, and push the oar handle towards the stern of the boat. This motion causes the shell to move backwards.
Back it
The rear of a shell.
Stern
The rower closest to stern of the boat, responsible for stroke rate, cadence and rhythm.
Stroke