Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General

1. What is crew?
2. Who can row for DCRC?
3. How do I know if I can do it?
4. Is experience necessary?
5. Am I big enough to row?
6. I’m not a “great” athlete. Can I row?
7. What should I expect if I row?
8. Is rowing hard work?
9. What is an erg?
10. What should I wear to practice?
11. Are Uniforms required?

Regattas

1. What are regattas?
2. Where are the regattas held?
3. How do the rowers get to regattas?
4. What does a rower need to bring to a regatta?
5. What does a parent need to bring to the regattas?
6. Are there different classes or categories at a regatta?

Understanding Rowing

1. What kind of boats are used?
2. What is the bow and what is the stern of the boat?
3. Which side is port and which side is starboard?
4. What is a coxswain (cox-n)?
5. What is the Stroke?
6. What is a crab?
7. I heard that my son/daughter is rowing the “3 seat”. What does this mean?
8. What is the “set” of the boat?
9. How can I tell who is winning during a race?

What is crew?

Crew is the traditional sport of rowing in which men and women race in a variety of boats using either one oar (called sweeping) or two oars (called sculling). DCRC participates in both but with an emphasis on sculling particularly for Grade 8-10 participants.

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Who can row for DCRC?

Any 8th through 12th grade student from the area can become a part of the DCRC Junior Program.

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How do I know if I can do it?

You won’t know unless you come out and try it.

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Is experience necessary?

NO! Rowing is the ultimate walk-on sport. Unlike other sports, rowers (and their parents) rarely have any experience with the sport. You do not need to worry about being behind. All rowers regardless of grade level start as “novices” (anyone with less than 1 year of experience rowing) and are taught how to row with others of the same ability.

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Am I big enough to row?

YES! Unlike other sports, crew accommodates all types of physical attributes. In rowing there are two weight classifications, lightweight and open or heavyweight. In lightweight boats, the maximum individual weight allowed for women is 130 lbs with the boat averaging no more than 125 lbs. For men, the individual maximum weight allowed is 160 lbs with an average of no more than 155lbs. There is no maximum (or minimum) in heavyweight boats.

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I’m not a “great” athlete. Can I row?

Yes, rowing is for everyone and in rowing, teamwork is number one. If you row, don’t look for MVP status. The best crew is made up of individuals willing to put aside their personal goals for the good of the team and they will be the ones receiving the medals.

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What should I expect if I row?

If you come out for crew, expect to find a whole new world of excitement, to make a new group of friends, and to have fun.

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Is rowing hard work?

It depends on what you want to put into it. Rowing is a total body workout. It requires the use of the upper body as well as the lower body and is a great aerobic workout yet is a low impact sport on the joints. Success in rowing, like any other sport, depends upon the effort you put into it. The most successful teams put a lot of effort, dedication and work into practice.

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What is an erg?

The ergometer (erg) is a stationary training device used on land to simulate rowing. DCRC uses Concept II rowing ergometers and uses them to teach technique and to build stamina. Rowers are also “tested” on the ergs to see how far they go in an allotted amount of time or how quick they can complete a specified distance (usually 2 km or 6km).

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What should I wear to practice?

Wear workout clothes that you will not mind getting dirty - usually an exercise T-shirt shorts that allow free leg movement . The weight of the clothing can be adjusted as weather cools off in the fall and early winter or warms up in late winter or spring. Cotton clothing is not recommended. Talk to your coach about the best clothing to wear.

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Are Uniforms required for Regattas?

Yes, each team must be dressed alike. The uniforms have been standardized and will last for years. Deep Cove’s uniform is blue with white trim down the sides of the top and on the arms with red Maple leaves on same.

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What are regattas?

Regattas are boat races held in the fall and the spring of the year. There are two basic types of race formats and some regattas may use both although most are of the Sprint race format.

“Head” races are 2.5 to 3 miles. Boats are started in their respective divisions separately at 10 to 20 second intervals and the boats race “against the clock”.

“Sprint” races are generally 2000 meters in length and are run in a straight line on both lakes and the ocean. The course usually has six to eight lanes and the shells start at the same time and race against each other in their respective lanes, which may or may not be marked by buoys.

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Where are the regattas held?

In the fall, there is a high school regatta hosted by Deep Cove Rowing Club to decide the North Shore High School championship. This year the format will be a combination of a head race and a sprint race.

In the Spring, the juniors travel to both Brentwood and Shawnigan Lake for regattas. These are followed by the Delta Deas regatta in the Lower Mainland and the BC Champs at Elk Lake on Vancouver Island that is attended by Juniors, Seniors and Masters. A limited number of rowers may also attend the Royal Henley regatta in early August at St. Catherines Ontario. Finally, there are other regattas in the North West US that may be attended by all levels from time to time.

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How do the rowers get to regattas?

Rowers are transported to the regatta sites in adult driven car pools or in a coach bus. If the number of rowers going to the regatta exceeds the bus capacity, they are driven by parent volunteers in cars. No rower is allowed to drive to the regatta site.

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What does a rower need to bring to a regatta?

Tents are provided for the athletes to rest under during the regattas. Rowers should bring a sleeping bag, blanket or pillow to rest on under the tent. They may also wish to bring money for regatta T-shirts (usually $15 +/-), sunscreen, a deck of cards, and/or a book to read or study. Rowers should bring their own (healthy) food and snacks and especially drinks – water/Gatorade to regattas. At some, breakfast and dinner may be provided but rowers should bring money for some meals as directed by the Regatta Coordinator and/or coaches.

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What does a parent need to bring to the regattas?

Bring chairs, binoculars, cameras, coolers for drinks, and snack food to share with other parents. More substantial food is usually available for purchase at the regatta or you may choose to bring your own picnic to enjoy. You may also consider bringing a book or your needlepoint/knitting or whatever else you enjoy to work on between races, but most of all, relax and enjoy watching your son or daughter perform.

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Are there different classes or categories at a regatta?

Yes, rowers are categorized by gender, age, weight, and ability. Events are offered for both men and women in two weight classes in junior (high school age), college and master (older than 27) events in lightweight and heavyweight categories. For junior and collegiate teams, races are held for novice and varsity boats. These may be further divided into “A”, “B”, and “C” classes depending upon the size of the racecourse and number of entries. In the masters division, mixed races are held with crews comprised of an equal number of men and women.

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What kind of boats are used?

Boats (or shells) are basically two types that reflect the two forms of rowing – sweep rowing and sculling. In sweep rowing, each rower has one oar about 12.5 feet long. In sculling, a rower uses two oars about 9.5 feet long. The term shell is often used because the hulls of the boats are only 1/8” to ¼” thick to make them as light as possible. The smallest boat is a single scull, which is 27 to 30 feet long, a foot wide and weighs approximately 30 pounds. The largest boat, an “eight” is over 60 feet long but only weighs a little over 200 pounds. Listed below are the symbols and a very brief description of the boats that can be seen in a regatta.

Sweep Boats (one oar per rower)

• (2+) Two rowers with a coxswain or a “pair with”.
• (2-) Two rowers without a coxswain or a “pair without”.
• (4+) Four rowers with a coxswain or “four with”.
• (4-) Four rowers without a coxswain or “four without”.
• (8+) Eight rowers with a coxswain.

Sculling Boats (two oars per rower)

• (1X) One rower or sculler or a “single”.
• (2X) Two scullers or a “double”.
• (4X) Four scullers or a “quad”.

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What is the bow and what is the stern of the boat?

The bow is the front of the boat or the first part to cross the finish line. The stern is the back or rear of the boat.

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Which side is port and which side is starboard?

This can be a little confusing. The port side is the left side of the boat to the coxswain who is facing forwards or to the right side of the rower who is facing towards the rear of the boat. Starboard is the opposite side.

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What is a coxswain (cox-n)?

The coxswain is the person in either a “four” or “eight” (and sometimes a double) who does not row, but who steers the boat and leads the crew. The coxswain is always a small person. During a race and often in practice, they give rowers technical feedback and input. They also manage the strategy during the race and keep the crew at its best as exhaustion sets in. Becoming a coxswain is often a valuable opportunity for a person of small build to be involved in rowing. Both male and female coxswains are also recruited by colleges.

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What is the Stroke?

This is the name given to the person sitting in the stern most seat in the shell. The rower faces the coxswain and sets the stroke rate, stroke length and rhythm for the rest of the crew (with the coxswain’s gentle advice).

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What is a crab?

A crab is a “problem” encountered by a rower when his or her oar gets “stuck” in or is “grabbed” by the water, usually right after the catch or just before the release. The momentum of the shell can overcome the rower’s control of the oar. It is caused by improper squaring or feathering of the oar and will happen to everyone who rows. In extreme cases the rower can actually be thrown from the shell, but this rarely happens. Usually the rower will be pushed back and the oar will go over their head. Rowers love to talk about “catching a crab” and it is usually funnier if the story is about someone else.

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I heard that my son/daughter is rowing the “3 seat”. What does this mean?

This mean that he or she sits in the seat that is third from the bow. In an 8+, the seats are called bow (1), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, stroke (8) and cox; in a 4+ or 4x, the seats are bow, 2, 3, stroke, and cox (where applicable).

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What is the “set” of the boat?

Set is the name given to the side-to-side balance of the boat. A boat with a good set will move through the water without side-to-side rolling. The set is affected by the way the rowers hold their bodies or weight over the keel (the center – most modern shells are not made with a keel - the structural member that runs the length of the boat) of the boat as well as their ability to keep the oar level and quite.

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How can I tell who is winning during a race?

In Sprint Races, this is easy as the boats start at the same time and are racing against each other, i.e., the first boat in a race is winning. In Head Races it is more difficult since the boats are staggered at the start and are racing against the clock. For Head Races look for the crew who is making it look easy as they are probably the one doing the best job.

When watching any race look for a continuous fluid motion from the rowers; synchronization in the boat; clean catches (all of the oars entering the water with little splash); and the boat with the most consistent speed. You do not want to see the boats check (jerk with each stroke).

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