let's brush up on some rowing deets

About Rowing

Rowing originally was simply a form of transport, and historically records go back as far as the 25th century BC. By the 16th Century AD, wagering by passengers in different boats led to races, originally impromptu, and then later on organised.
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The History of Rowing

By the early 18th century in England there were known to be about 40000 liveried rowers. Doggett’s Coat and Badge, an organized watermen’s race, has been held annually since 1715. Both the watermen and the regattas, (programs of racing), held throughout the 18th century were professional. A similarform of racing by ferrymen in the United States began early in the 19th century.

Rowing in six and eight-oar boats began as a club and school activity for amateurs about this time in England and somewhat later in the United States. Organized racing began at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the 1820s, culminating in 1839 in the Henley Regatta (from 1851 the Henley Royal Regatta), which has continued to the present. Rowing as sport developed from the 1830s to the ’60s in Australia during the same period became popular throughout Canada, Europe and in the United States. (Harvard and Yale universities first raced in 1851; the first open regatta for amateurs was held in 1872.) Throughout the century professional sculling was a popular sport.

Local and national organizations, amateur and professional, were formed in this period, and in 1892 the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Aviron (FISA; the International Rowing Federation) was founded. Events in rowing (for crews of eight, four, and two) and in sculling were established. In races for eights and for some fours and pairs, there is also a coxswain, who sits at the stern, steers, calls the stroke, and generally directs the strategy of the race.

Rowing events in the Olympic Games have been held for men since 1900 and for women since 1976.

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What You’ll Learn (Key Features)

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Single Sculls 1x
The ultimate test of individual skill, the single sculls boat allows the rower to control their own destiny. They can adjust their pace and strategy as they see fit. On the downside, it’s a lonely endeavor. Without teammates to rely on, the single sculler must possess exceptional endurance and mental fortitude to maintain performance throughout the race.
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Double Scull 2x

Two rowers, each holding two oars — one in each hand. Double the power, and the ability to share the physical load. It also opens up strategic possibilities, as rowers can adapt their rhythm based on their partner's strengths and weaknesses. But synchronisation is crucial — any lack of harmony between the rowers can disrupt the boat's movement and speed

 

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Coxless Pair 2-
Two rowers, each holding a single oar — one on each side of the boat, with no cox to call the rhythm. Widely considered the hardest boat class to master, and typically the slowest over the same distance, since there's no third or fourth rower to smooth over a mismatch. Every stroke depends entirely on the two rowers moving as one — the purest test of partnership in the sport.
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Quadruple Scull (Quads) 4x

Four rowers, each holding two oars — the largest sculling boat in common competition, without a cox. (Octuple sculls exist too, but they're generally reserved for training rather than racing.) The quad brings serious power to the water, but synchronising four rowers is no small feat — misalignment in even one rower's stroke can throw off the balance and speed of the whole boat. A crew that's found its rhythm here moves as fast as almost anything on the water.

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Coxed Quadruple Sculls (Coxed Quads) 4x+

The same four-rower sculling power, with a cox steering and calling the race. Common in junior, schools and development crews, the cox's calls take some of the coordination burden off the rowers — but the fundamentals are the same: four scullers finding one rhythm, with an extra voice in the boat to help them get there.

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Coxless Four 4-

Four rowers, each holding a single oar, with no cox. One of the more technically demanding sweep boats — without a cox to steer or call the race, the crew has to steer with their own boat-feel and communicate the strategy themselves, all while holding a clean, matched stroke.

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Coxed Four 4+
Four rowers, each holding a single oar, with a cox steering and directing strategy from the stern. Freed from having to steer or call their own race, the four rowers can focus purely on power and technique — a boat class that rewards raw synchronisation as much as individual strength.
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Coxed Eight 8+

Eight rowers, each holding a single oar, with a cox steering and calling the race from the stern. The largest and fastest boat in the sport — pure power multiplied by eight, moving as one. But scale is a double-edged sword: with eight rowers instead of two or four, even the smallest variation in timing or technique ripples through the whole boat, costing speed and efficiency. Get it right, and nothing on the water moves faster.

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Octuple Sculls 8x+

Eight rowers, each holding two oars — the largest sculling boat that exists, always with a cox. It's heavier, wider, and more stable than any other sculling shell, which is exactly why it's rarely raced competitively — the oct is mostly a training and teaching boat, used to introduce novice scullers to the fundamentals before they move into smaller, less forgiving boats. When it does appear in competition, it's almost always in youth and junior programs. Sixteen oars moving in time is a serious sight — and a serious lesson in synchronisation for anyone learning the sport.

Full Body Workout

Rowing is an incredible sport for your health. It develops multiple areas including strength, stamina and flexibility. It develops your arms, legs, shoulders, core, back and glut muscles. Almost every teenager in Australia suffers from underdeveloped core muscles. It also develops your lung capacity.

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Who Is This Rowing For?

This program is designed for individuals of all fitness levels who want to improve their strength, endurance, and overall athletic performance. Whether you're an athlete looking to enhance your skills, a fitness enthusiast aiming to build muscle, a beginner in need of structured guidance.
  • Athletes looking to enhance performance : For professional and aspiring athletes who want to improve their speed, agility, and strength. This program includes sport-specific drills, endurance training, and explosive power exercises to boost overall performance.
  • Fitness Enthusiasts Wanting to Build Strength : Perfect for those who love working out and want to take their fitness journey to the next level. Whether you're into weightlifting or functional training, this program helps in muscle growth, strength conditioning, and improving endurance.
  • Beginners Aiming for a Structured Workout Plan : If you're new to fitness and don’t know where to start, this program provides step-by-step guidance, expert coaching, and progressive workouts to help you gain confidence and strength.
  • Individuals Recovering from Injuries & Improving Mobility : Designed for those overcoming injuries or dealing with mobility limitations. This program focuses on controlled movements, joint stability, and rehabilitation exercises to regain strength and prevent future injuries.

Enjoying our environment

It is performed in the most pristinlely beautiful locations, an offers both fresh air and sunlight - vitamin D essential for bone health, immunity and mood regulation. Your endorphins will be pumping after an early morning row. It is a low impact sport and is very easy on the joints. You are also very unlikely to incur injuries from rowing.

Rowing is a great social sport and really encourages true team development without the "ball hog" player involved. Everyone has to work together, or everyone ends up in the drink, which is highly undesirable on those cool winter mornings.

Being an early morning sport for the most part, aside from being an awesome way to begin your day, it leaves the rest of your day free for other activities.

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Equipment & Rowing Terms worth knowing

Whether you're a parent, or a new learn to row candidate, or a seasoned rower just wanting to brush up on the lingo, we've got the terminology down pat.

Single Scull – 1 sculler, sculling, two sculling oars for the rower

Double Scull – 2 scullers, sculling, two sculling oars per rower

Pair (without a cox) 2 rowers, sweep rowing, one sweep oar per rower

Quadruple “Quad” Scull – 4 scullers, sculling, two sculling oars per rower

Coxed Quadruple “Quad” Scull scullers plus cox, sculling, two sculling oars per rower

Coxless Four (without a cox) 4 rowers, sweep rowing, one sweep oar per rower

Coxed Four (with a cox) 4 rowers, sweep rowing, one sweep oar per rower

Coxed Eight (with a cox) 8 rowers- sweep rowing, one sweep oar per rower

What is a sweep oar?

A sweep oar is the long oar used in sweep rowing, where each rower rows on one side of the boat. A rower uses **one sweep oar only**, positioned on either the port or starboard side—not two, as in sculling. Sweep oars are typically about 3.6–3.8 metres long (around 370 cm), although the exact length can vary depending on the boat, blade design and crew setup. The oar is made up of the blade, the shaft, the sleeve, the collar and the handle.

What is a sculling oar? A sculling oar is one of the two oars used by a sculler. A sculler uses two sculling oars, one on each side of the boat, to propel and balance the boat. Sculling oars are typically about 2.8–2.9 metres long (around 280–290 cm), although the exact length can vary depending on the blade design, boat and crew setup. When sculling, hold the **left hand over the right hand** as the handles cross in front of the body. Keep the oar handles together and under control to help keep the boat balanced. Never let go of an oar.  The oar is made up of the blade, the shaft, the sleeve, the collar and the handle.

To row in reverse to manoeuvre the boat to a desired position

Water splashed back towards the bow by the blade as it enters the water.

The part at the end of the oar which goes into the water. Sometimes called the Spoon

The front end of the boat, that part of the boat that crosses the finish line first, identified by the bow ball.

A 5cm rubber ball fitted to the bow of the boat as a safety device. A compulsory fitting.

A alpha-numeric number that each racing crew has attached to their bow to identify their race (the alpha) and their lane number (the numeric).

The rower closest to the front or bow of a crew boat when looking towards the bow.

The right or starboard side of the boat when looking towards the bow.

The catch is the front end of the stroke where the oar is subsequently placed into the water, shins 90°, arms outstretched, back straight, shoulders relaxed eyes forward, bending from the hips

 A “crab” is when the oar get stuck in the water and impedes the progress of the boat.

Check it, or Check your boat | Is when the crew, or some members of the crew put their oar into the water and hold it still to stop the boat from moving

A wide plastic ring placed around the sleeve of an oar. The button stops the oar from slipping through the oarlock.

A brand name, but also a common term used for a speaker system that the coxswain uses to be heard throughout the boat. it can also show stroke rate, boat speed and time etc to the coxswain.

The person who is responsible for steering a coxed boat and making race calls around strategy. The "Coach in the Boat" Not all boats have a cox. The cox may either sit in the stern of the boat or lie down in the bow of the boat. The cox faces the direction the boat is going.

All races except Sprint events are over the Olympic distance of 2,000 metres.

Sprint events are 500 metres.  

In Schools or grade based categories, Year 8, Year 9, Novice, grades 4 and 5 rowers race 1000 metres.  

Year 10, and grade 3 rowers race  1,500 metres.

The part of the stroke where the oar is in the water, and rower is pushing with the legs, then the body, then the arms to the finish

To stop rowing

 An indoor rowing machine, also known as a modern form or torture

Each event will be conducted over a number of elimination rounds, e.g, heat, repechage, semi-final, and finals

When the oars are turned so the blade is parallel with the water

The end of the drive where the oars are released from the water..  Some coaches like a pause at the finish, others prefer a continuation at a regular pace

Apparatus for holding the feet firmly in the boat.  The foot stretcher is adjustable to suit each rower's unique height and leg length.  Shoes are attached to the foot stretcher, and the shoes have quick release ties for the rower to pull on in an emergency to release their feet from the boat swiftly

The gate is the hinged bar and fastening nut on top of the oarlock that holds the oar securely in place while you row. After placing the oar in the oarlock, close the gate and tighten the fastening nut properly so the gate is locked—not just resting closed.

Always check that the gate is fully closed and secured before getting into the boat and before rowing. If the gate is not secured correctly, the oar can come out of the oarlock unexpectedly. This can make the boat unstable and you will likely tip out of the boat. Always check the gate.

A class of rowing where the rowers need to meet certain weight requirements to race.  It varies for men and women.  You should check with Rowing Australia to determine the current requirements

The number of strokes taken per minute - note, a higher stroke rate does not always guarantee a faster boat

The part of the stroke where the oar is out of the water when the rower is moving forward to the catch. (the beginning of the stroke). The recovery should never be rushed

A second race was given to crews that do not progress in the draw past the heat, a second chance to progress.  Typically only seen at National Championships, World Championships and the Olympics.

An attachment to the side of the boat which holds the gates and oars.  The Riggers can be mounted in front of the rower or in the rear of the rower.  The riggers can be made of varying materials, carbon fibre, aluminium or steel.

A rower who rows with two oars, one in each hand.

A rower’s position in the boat counting up from the bow. In an eight, the person closest to the bow is “bow,” the next is 2, followed by 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and finally “stroke.”  Commonly referred to by their seat names - 2 seat, 3 seat, bow, stroke, etc.

Runners that guide the wheels of the rower’s seat during the stroke.

The time it has taken a crew to row a specified distance usually 500 metres

When the blade is at right angles to the water.  Rowing Square blades is a common training exercise as well as having square blades at the catch.  Blades should be squared during the recovery phase.  "Blades squared and burried" is a common term called by coaches to rowers when at the catch at the start of a piece.

The rear end/ back of the boat - where the stroke sits.

The entire movement of the oar going through the water, finish and recovery and going back in again.

Also the name of the 1 seat rower.

The rower closest to the stern of the boat.

The left or port side of the boat when looking to the bow.

Rowers who row with one oar / boats where each rower has one oar. (Also known as "Real Rowing")

The wake from another boat

Where the blade comes out of the water during the drive

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the actual boats

Understanding Weight and Size

If you've ever tried to manoeuvre a scull shell out of a shed or carry one down to the water's edge, you might have wondered why they're so long, or why some are heavier than others. For many rowers, especially those new to the sport, these questions pop up only after they’ve had to lift a shell for the first time.  

This page is here to give you a bit of insight into the weight and size of different scull shells, explaining how these factors come into play and what they mean for your rowing experience.  

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to get a better grip—literally—on your equipment, understanding the basics of your scull’s dimensions can make a big difference.  

First, there are actually two types of rowing that we often lump together under the word “row”.Sculls or sculling, is when each rower has two oars, one in each hand.

You can have a single scull because those two oars will already keep the boat going forward. It is quite common to see two or more people in a scull. A double sculling boat has two people rowing, while a boat with four rowers is called a quad.Sweep rowing is the other type.

This is where each person in the boat uses both hands to control a single oar. There must always be an even number of rowers, otherwise, the boat would simply turn in circles!

As with sculling, sweep rowing can have two, four, or even eight rowers in the boat. (For obvious reasons a single can only be a scull)Now that you’ve got the terminology down, let’s talk about the shells (the term we use when we refer to the boats).The most common boats have the approximate weights and lengths below.

Shell Type Typical Weight Typical Length
Single Scull 11kg-14kg 8m-9m
Double Scull 27kg 11.3m
Coxless Quad 52kg 15m
Coxed Quad 52kg 15.5m
Coxless Pair 27kg 11.3m
Coxed Pair 32kg 11.7m
Coxless Four 51kg 14.6m
Coxed Four 52.3kg 14.6m
Coxless Eight 91kg 18.3m
Coxed Eight 114kg 20m