Frequently asked questions about
rowing
Friends of Detroit Rowing rules about winter and
darkness rowing
Rack and storage fees for singles at the Belle Island
Boathouse
Frequently asked questions about rowing:
Q: Some of these programs seem
pretty pricey. Why so much?
A: Rowing is a seriously capital-heavy sport. A new
eight oared shell is nearly $40,000 and the club has
more then 10 of these. Single shells can be more the
$5,000. Oars (or blades) are $250 each. Additionally
there are the costs of renting and maintaining our
boathouse. So considering all that, we're a pretty good
deal.
Q: You folks get up real early
for some of these practices! Couldn't we do something,
say noon-ish?
A: In rowing, it's all about the water. We row in the
rain, snow, and cold, but we can't go out when the wind
is up. Early morning is consistently the best weather of
the day. Additionally our Junior crews need to be done
with practice by 6:30 am in order to get to school on
time. The rest of us need to get to work (refer to
answer to question 1). It is all worth it, however, when
you're on the river in perfectly flat water, the boat is
moving under you and the sun is just coming up. It's
glorious.
Q: How do I get the job where you sit in the end of
the boat and tell everybody what to do?
A: The coxswain (or cox) is a very important part of the
crew. They steer the boat and set the course. In a race,
the strategy the cox uses in setting the course and
encouraging the crew can make all the difference in
winning or losing. The coxswain also controls getting
the boat out of the boathouse and safely into the water,
not easy when the boat is over 60 feet long and weighs a
few hundred pounds. It is a lot harder to find a good
cox then to just get another rower. If this is what you
are interested in, we'll teach you. Being of smaller
stature is a plus for this job.
Q: Speaking of stature, I've got more of a football
players build then a cyclist or runner. Will I fit in
the boat as a rower?
A: We haven't had anybody too big to fit yet. Once you
learn the technique, height and weight add up to power.
The bigger folks with a long reach can really help move
the boat.
Q: I don't know if I'd ever be good enough to be a
Master, where do I take the test?
A: 'Master' is an age group, not a skill level. If you
row and are over 21, congratulations, you're already a
Master.
Q: How come some folks get two oars but I only have
one? Wouldn't I be twice as fast with two?
A: That's not exactly how that works. The two main
divisions in rowing are sweep rowing (with one oar) and
sculling (using two oars). Beginners learn sweep rowing
in a crew boat with either four or eight people. The
bigger the boat, the more stable it is. A single (always
sculled) is pretty darn tippy. A two-person boat can be
sculled (called a double) or sweep rowed (called a
pair). A four-person boat sculled is a quad. When it's
sweep rowed, it is a 'four'. An 'eight', at least in the
US, is rowed as a sweep boat. It is pretty hard to turn
over an eight.
Q: Will I have a life jacket on when I'm rowing?
A: No, it would be too restrictive to row in. We ask
that you know how to swim and to sign a release to that
effect. Our high school crews take a mandatory swim
test. We take the adults at their word.
Q: All kidding aside, is this safe?
A: Safety is our highest priority. You may be safer
sitting on your porch, but that wouldn't be as much fun.
It's far safer then road cycling and a heck of a lot
easier on your knees then running. There will always be
a safety boat out with you when you are practicing which
has life jackets and a reach pole on board. As a
beginner, you'll spend most of your time practicing on
the mile of water between our docks and the Detroit
Yacht Club. You're more likely to scrape your knuckles
getting the boat out of the boathouse then to experience
any sort of on-the-water mishap.
Q: What side of the boat should I sit on?
A: You don't actually 'sit' on one side of the boat,
everyone sits in a straight line. You do row to either
the port or starboard side. In an eight, the seats are
numbered from the bow (front of the boat) from 'one'
(also called bow seat) up to 'eight' at the stern
(called stroke seat). The odd number seats row
starboard, the even number seats row port. When you row
starboard, your left hand turns (or 'feathers') the oar.
The right hand pulls the oar through the stroke. On port
it is the opposite, right hand turns the oar, left hand
pulls the oar through the stroke. There is nothing
inherently better about one side or the other, it's just
a matter of what feels the most comfortable to you. At
some point, you will want to learn to row both sides.
Q: What the heck is the crab I keep hearing about?
We're not really talking about a crustacean here are we?
A: To 'crab' means to get your oar stuck in the water
and not be able to pull it out in time for the next
stroke. Disconcerting, but not the end of the world.
It's going to happen. A lot. Don't worry about it.
Q: What do we do if the weather is too bad to go on
the water?
A: The instructor will have a workout planned that you
will do on the indoor rowing machines, the ERG.
Q: Eech. That doesn't sound like much fun. Do I have
to?
A: We don't lock the doors if that's what you mean.
Rowing is the ultimate team sport. The shared experience
of doing something together that isn't all that much fun
is part of building a team. It is also a valuable
opportunity to improve your rowing technique and build
strength and stamina for your on the water rowing.
Actually, ERGing is a sport itself. In the winter the
club attends and even sponsors an ERG regatta. Last year
DBC Rowing was 6th for the number of meters ERGed
(almost 17 million) out of more then 340 clubs
worldwide.
Q: OK, I'm sold. When I get to my first Learn to Row
class, should I start pulling out boats and oars and
stuff…
A: No, please don't do that. Locate the rest of your
learn to row class and introduce yourself. You'll be
together a lot. The boat may be 60 feet long, but you'll
be sharing it with eight other folks. The first couple
of sessions will be spent learning the terminology of
rowing. This is important so you can quickly and safely
respond to what the cox tells you to do. You'll also
work on the ERG to learn the parts of the rowing stroke.
Soon, your coach will take you out in the 'barge', which
basically is two boats mounted together to provide a
stable learning platform. Before long, you'll be going
out and practicing in the regular eight man shells.
Class is not over till all the boats are returned to the
boathouse and wiped down. Oars need to be returned to
the proper rack in the oar room and stowed carefully. We
take good care of our equipment, for good reason (refer
to the first question again).
See you on the water.
ROW DETROIT!
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