Rowing

Introduction

Rowing is a sport in which a boat is propelled on water using oars. It was originated in ancient Egyptian times, but first rowing competition was held in the early 10th century between professional watermen on the River Thames in London, UK. Rowing is also a part of Summer Olympics since 1900. It was also the part of 1896 Olympics but was cancelled due to bad weather conditions. The global governing body of rowing is Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron (FISA) and was founded in 1892.

Objective

To finish with the fastest time to win the race.

History of Rowing

Rowing started as a method for transportation. Galleys, utilised as war vessels and boats of state, won in antiquated Egypt (on the Nile River) and consequently in the Roman Empire (on the Mediterranean) from, in any event, the 25th century BCE to the fourth century CE. Rowing was likewise an imperative extra to cruising for the Anglo-Saxons, Danes, and Norwegians in their waterborne military invasions. Rowing in England, of both little vessels and barges, started on the River Thames since the thirteenth century and brought about an organisation of watermen who transported travellers up, down, and over the Thames in and close London.

Betting by travellers in various pontoons by the sixteenth century prompted races, unorganised at first but later organised and sponsored. By the mid-eighteenth century, there were in excess of 40,000 liveried watermen. Doggett's Coat and Badge, a well organised composed watermen's race, has been held every year since 1715. The watermen were, obviously, experts, and the regattas, projects of racing, held all through the eighteenth century were additionally proficient. A comparative type of racing by ferrymen in the United States started right off the bat in the nineteenth century.

Rowing in six-and eight-paddle vessels started as a club and school action for beginners about this time in England and reasonably later in the United States. Organised racing began at the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge during the 1820s, coming full circle in 1839 in the Henley Regatta (from 1851 the Henley Royal Regatta), which has proceeded to the present. Rowing as a game developed from the 1830s to the '60s in Australia and Canada and amid a similar period ended up well known all through Europe and in the United States. (Harvard and Yale's colleges initially raced in 1851; the main open regatta for beginners was held in 1872.) Throughout the century professional sculling was a mainstream sport.

Local and national associations, novice and professional, were shaped in this period, and in 1892 the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron (FISA; the International Rowing Federation) was established. Events in Rowing (for groups of eight, four, and two) and sculling were built up. In races for eights and for somewhere in the range of fours and sets, there is additionally a coxswain, who sits at the stern, steers, calls the stroke, and for the most part, coordinates the methodology of the race. Rowing events in the Olympic Games have been held for men since 1900 and since 1976.

Events

Boat Class-Single Sculls (1x)

In these events, individual scullers (rower with two oars) compete. The shell (boat) is usually 8.2m long and weighs minimum 14kg.

Boat Class-Double Sculls (2x)

Two scullers per shell compete in this event. The shell is usually 10.4m long and weighs minimum 27kg.

Boat Class-Coxless Pairs (2-)

Two rowers (with one oar per rower) per shell compete. The shell is of same size and weight as a double scull.

Boat Class-Coxed Pairs (2+)

Two rowers (with one oar per rower) with a coxswain per shell compete. The weight of the shell must be minimum 32kg.

Boat Class-Coxless Quadruple Sculls (4x)

Four scullers per shell compete in which the weight of the shell must be minimum 52kg.

Boat Class-Coxed Quadruple Sculls (4x+)

Four scullers with a coxswain per shell compete in which the shell weighs minimum 53kg.

Boat Class-Coxless Fours (4-)

This shell contains four rowers (with one oar per rower), with two rowing each side. The shell weighs minimum 50kg.

Boat Class-Coxed Fours (4+)

Four rowers (with one oar per rower) with a coxswain per shell compete. The shell must weigh minimum 51kg.

Boat Class-Coxed Octuple Scull (8x)

Eight scullers with a coxswain per shell compete. The shell weighs minimum 97kg.

Boat Class-Coxed Eight (8+)

Eight rowers (with one oar per rower) with a coxswain per shell compete. The weight of this shell must be minimum 96kg.

Competition-Side By Side Racing

Also known as sprint racing or regatta in which all the boats start at the same time and the boat which crosses the finish line first wins.

Competition-Head Races

These are time trial races in which the boats start at intervals of 10-20 seconds and are timed over a set distance.

Competition-Bumps Races

In these races, a number of boats chase each other in a single line and try to bump the boat in front while avoiding being bumped by the boat from behind.

Competition-Stake Races

In these races, crews race to a stake or rows to a distance and return by making a 180 degrees turn. These races are popular with spectators as one may watch the start as well as the finish of the race.

Participants

Male and female rowers compete individually or in teams of two, four or eight rowers (excluding the coxswain) in various events of rowing.

Equipment

Rowing - Shoes

Rowers wear lightweight shoes which are fixed to a metal plate in the boat and provide them with a stable base to push off.

Rowing boat/Shell

A rowing boat is a narrow, long boat used in the sport to minimize the drag and to make the propulsion faster.

Rowing - Clothing

Rowers wear tight-fitted one piece suits known as zoot suit or unisuit that reflects their nation or club’s color.

Techniques

Sweeping

Rowing with one oar per rower is known as sweeping. A rower whose oars extend from the starboard side (right side of the boat) is called a bowsider while the one whose oars extend out on the port side (left side of the boat) is called a strokesider.

Sculling

Rowing with two oars per rower, one in each hand is called sculling. Sculling can be done with or without a coxswain.

Playing Area

The standard FISA rowing championships usually take place over a distance of 2000m long courses (except for the masters’ courses, which are about 1000m long) and are wide enough to hold two to eight lanes. However, the distances can vary from 500m long for sprints to 160-180km long for the marathon or ultra-marathon races. In the UK, rowing regattas take place over distances of 500m to 2km. The rowing courses do not have many turns and usually runs in a straight line.

Officials

Referee

The referee is the primary judge who judges the proceedings of the race. He/she may be assisted by additional referees if required.

Starter And The Judge Of The Start

Ensures that the correct starting procedure is followed and checks for the false starts.

The Umpire

Responsible for the proper conduct of the race and ensures the safety of the rowers.

Finish Line Judge

Responsible for maintaining an order of the boats in which they reached the finish line and hence for determining the winners.

Jury

A jury consisting of the chief referee and four other officials decide about any protests.