Sculling at DMRC Beginner’s Guide

2016

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DMRC policies for sculling

The following is a selection of information for the beginning sculler. Members are encouraged to read all club guidelines in full, located at desmoinesrowing.org

under “Club Documents.”

Once your instructor certifies that you have completed the sculling course and you have taken the coxing theory clinic, you will be allowed to use the club’s novice sculling boats on the lake. In order to row on the river in a single or to row in the bow of a double or quad, an additional certification is required. Please see the bow certification policy and contact the sculling coordinator. Certification in a single on Gray’s Lake does allow you to row in a double or quad on the river as long as a rower with the required river bow seat certification is in the bow.

The club has many policies that cover novice scullers; they are designed to keep you safe, so please read through this handbook carefully.

Coxing theory clinic:

In order to row without an instructor present, all scullers must attend the coxing theory clinic at least once.

Checking wind and weather conditions for sculling:

Assess the weather conditions before rowing. Do not row if a lightning storm seems imminent or visibility is poor.

1. Check wind and weather conditions by using the link on the right of the home page for desmoinesrowing.org. When you move to the river, use the link for current river levels on the same home page.

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2. You must wait 30 minutes after last hearing thunder or seeing lightning before launching.

3. If you spot lightning while on the water, use the nearest suitable dock and seek shelter ASAP.

4. In hot and humid weather, hydrate generously and frequently, and use sunscreen.

5. Don’t row in white cap waves. Smaller boats are advised not to row when winds are over 13.8mph.

6. Do not row when the water temperature (Fahrenheit) plus air temperature (F) is less than 100 degrees; the risk that immersion in cold water will lead to cold shock, swimming failure, or hypothermia is increased.

7. You may check river levels by using the link on the right side of the home page for desmoinesrowing.org. Inexperienced crews should not row when river levels are in excess of 17 feet. Experienced crews are advised not to row when river levels exceed 19 feet. It is not recommended that anyone row a single if the river is above 15.5 feet.

DMRC’s safety policy:

This can be found on the DMRC website under “club documents.” Please read it in full.

A few general rules:

Rowers are strongly encouraged to use the buddy system; don’t row alone.Some members pay to store their personal boats and oars in our boathouse. Be careful not to use privately owned equipment.Do not use broken equipment.General tip- long fingernails and rings can be painful when you scull. You might want to keep nails short and leave rings at home.

How do I reserve a boat?

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Use the recurring reservation form (google docs). It can be shared with you by requesting it from the rowing director or the sculling coordinator. Be sure to bookmark it so that you can make one-time reservations as well as recurring reservations during the season. The current rowing director’s email can be found at desmoinesrowing.org, under “About DMRC,” “directors.”

Every time you use a boat, it should have been reserved for that day and time.

What boats am I allowed to use?

Rowing Shells by Skill and WeightSkill: Novice (first year), Intermediate (second/third year), Advanced (fourth year)Weight: Lightweight (under 140 pounds average), Midweight (141 to 180 pounds average), Heavyweight (over 180 pounds average).Weight categories represent manufacturer-stated recommendations for performance, not club restrictions on use.

Novice ShellsThis category consists of training shells. Training shells are classified as sturdy utilitarian shells meant to withstand the typical use by novices. Scullers must have passed the Sculling Proficiency test to row without an instructor present. Once the test has been passed, a novice sculler may join more experienced scullers in a 2x or a 4x but may not sit in the bow seat.

The highlighted boats are those designated for you during your first year of sculling.

• Alden 1x: heavyweight/Adaptive• John Moon 1x: heavyweight• New Maas Aero 1x: heavyweight• Avante 2x: midweight• Carcaridon Carcarious 2x: heavyweight

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Intermediate ShellsThis category consists of shells designed for intermediate skills. Shells in this category may be limited to the second and third-year rowers who can sharpen their skills in these shells. Novices may not use these shells.

In the case of sculling shells, only scullers who have passed the Sculling Proficiency test may use the equipment.

• Jack Taylor 1x: midweight• Peinert 1x: midweight• Julien A 1x: midweight• WinTech 1x: lightweight• WinTech 1x: midweight• WinTech 1x: heavyweight• Downey 2x: midweight• Meredith 4x (coxless bow requirement): midweight

Advanced ShellsThis category consists of racing shells meant for use by fourth-year rowers and above. Use of these shells by Novices and Intermediate rowers may only be permitted with advance approval from the rowing director. In the case of sculling shells, only scullers who have passed the Sculling Proficiency test may use the equipment.

• Dawn Taylor 1x: midweight• David Hurd 1x: lightweight• New K-2/2x (coxless bow requirement): midweight• K-2/2x (coxless bow requirement): midweight• Raven 4x (coxless bow requirement): lightweight

General Lesson Outline:

The following is a general outline of how instruction might go. Your instructor may choose to do things at a different speed or in a different order.

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Lesson 1:

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to

1. Select a beginner single (either Moon or Maas Arrow), sign it out, carry it with a partner, check it for problems, and set it up for an on-water session. This includes adjusting the foot stretchers and placing the oars properly in the oarlocks.

2. Get in and out of the boat unassisted, and be secure and stable in the boat (know the safety position).

3. Grip an oar properly, feather the blade, square the blade, demonstrate a level pull and keep the oar blade at proper depth.

4. Row several strokes “arms only” and “arms and back.”5. Back the boat; stop the boat.6. Dock the boat on one side of the dock with assistance of instructor if

necessary.Lesson 2:

By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to

1. Demonstrate improvement of skills covered in Lesson One.2. Row with full strokes with proper blade work (squared blade at entry,

feathered blades during recovery, and blades off the water during recovery).

3. Dock the boat on both sides with assistance from instructor on the dock if necessary.

Lesson 3:

1. Apply skills from lessons one and two.2. Row, turn around, and row back to the dock.3. Use a “point” to steer while rowing. 4. Start to adjust course without stopping.

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5. Dock the boat without assistance. 6. Look behind during the drive.7. Complete a tip test; this may be done in a place where the student can

touch bottom as long as another test is later completed in deeper water. The boat does not have to be overturned.

Lesson 4:

1. Demonstrate understanding of skills introduced and practiced in previous lessons.

2. Identify characteristics of Gray’s Lake important for safety: where it is shallow or deep, hazards to avoid, etc.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of club policies relating to the sculling program (safety, boat reservations, logbook, boats available to novices, etc.).

Lessons 5-6:

Continue to work on the skills from previous lessons. Completing one more tip test is recommended. At least one of them should be in water deep enough that the student is unable to touch bottom.

Lessons 7+:

As needed.

Procedure for rowing:

1. Make a recurring or one-time reservation2. Log out the boat3. Notice what direction the boat is in so that you can return it to the rack in

the same way.4. Place the boat on slings to remove the oarlock covers5. Check the boat before every row:

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Inspect for safe fin, bow ball, and for general damage6. Report any damage in the repair book, put a sign on the boat/oar, and

notify the equipment director. Do not row a damaged boat.7. Foot stretchers – set to appropriate position for your height, flexibility and

stroke. Make sure the wing nuts are only finger tight.8. Seat – facing proper direction – there is an indentation on one side to

make room for your tailbone. This faces toward the bow. “The crack goes in the back.”

9. Tracks free of debris10.Riggers – check the nuts on top to make sure they are snug.11.Drain plugs – in and fitting snugly. After you row, release the drain plugs

to let out any water that might have gotten into the boat.12.Oarlocks – gates closed until you are ready to insert the oars. Once the

oars are in, make sure the gates are fully closed and tightened.13.Lock the boathouse door before launching14.Returning from a row, place boat on slings to wipe off with a towel and

replace oarlock covers.15.Return the boat to its rack, making sure it is facing the same way you

found it.16.Remove the drain plugs17.Be sure to put the oars away18.Check the dock for anything left behind19.Log the boat back in, reporting any damage to the boat if necessary.

Please don’t hesitate to do this; accidents happen even to experienced rowers. We don’t want someone rowing a damaged boat unwittingly, and we do want repairs to be made as soon as possible. Put a “Do not row” sign on the boat if necessary and report damage to the equipment manager.

20.Lock the boathouse as you leave

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Setting Foot Stretchers

Setting your foot stretchers is different for sculling than it is for sweep. Go to the finish. Your hands should be close to your ribs but not touching. If you can easily swing your hands out beyond your sides, your foot stretchers should be moved closer to the stern. If your hands hit your body at the finish of your stroke, your foot stretchers should be moved closer to the bow. Be sure to have your instructor check the placement of your foot stretchers until you get used to the procedure.

Getting in and out of the Boat

Put the dockside oar in the oarlock first, then the waterside oar. Run the waterside oar out until the collar is snug in the oarlock. Hold the handles together in your waterside hand. Your dockside hand should rest on the gunwale. Nudge the seat toward the bow with your waterside foot, then place that foot on the strip. Before you transfer your weight into the boat, be sure the rigger or gunwale isn’t stuck on the dock. Transfer your weight onto your waterside foot. Lift your dockside foot forward as you sit on the seat. Once you are safely in your seat, you may put your feet in the shoes.

Leave the boat in reverse order.

Grip

It is important to learn the proper grip for holding the oars.• The proper grip is relaxed with the fingers wrapped around the handles and thethumbs on the ends.• Maintain pressure on the end of the handles to push the oars against thecollars/buttons. Keep the heels of the hands away from the handles by using thefingers to grip the oars.• Keep the wrist flat during most of the drive and recovery.

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• Feather and square the oars by rotating the handle in the hook of the fingers without bending the wrists

A relaxed grip is one with your thumbs at the end of the handles. This allows you to exert pressure towards the oarlocks throughout the stroke.

To feather or square the oars during the stroke, rotate the handles in the hook of your fingers. Keeping your grip light (relaxed) will help you do this more easily.

Watch the following for a demonstration: youtube: Recovery to Catch: How to position your hands and hold your oars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3MdSkh2s2o

How to Stay Upright and in the Boat

A common worry among new rowers is flipping the boat. It seems like a distinct possibility when you are new to sculling, for the singles sometimes feel somewhat tippy. Yet, this is actually a relatively rare occurrence and is fairly difficult to do if you hold onto both oars and keep your oar handles together. You can get a sense of this from the Safety Position you learn on the first day of beginner lessons (back straight, legs slightly bent, arms extended and hands together). Separate your oars and raise one or the other and the boat suddenly becomes very unstable. Bring your hands back together, and the boat becomes stable once

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more. If you find yourself in an unstable situation (you have encountered a large motorboat wake), hold your oars together and assume the Safety Position. This will keep you from tipping.

Flipping, Falling out and Getting Back in

Once it becomes clear that you are going to tip, don't fight it. Get back into your boat by following these steps:

1. Right your shell. You might need to reach over the hull and pull on a rigger.2. Grip both oar handles with one hand.3. Place your other hand between the tracks on the slide.4. Push yourself up. You might need to kick your legs.5. Swivel your body and swing your bottom onto the shell.6. Lift your legs in.7. Another method is to pull your torso onto the shell far enough so that you

can swing your legs over to straddle the boat.

Watch these videos of a tip test (flip test) on YouTube to help prepare for your own test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhtv53MOrqA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4iZN2WjbMA&playnext=1&list=PLF11A81C0483DCA8E&feature=results_video

Catching a Crab

“Catching a crab” occurs when you bury a blade deep in the water and it seems to get stuck. To extract the blade, press down on the oar handle using very little wrist. Push the oars away sharply with firm wrists just slightly flexed. Feather your oars after your blades are extracted.

Waves and Weather

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As a sculler, you need to do whatever you can to stay out of trouble because you are the most vulnerable boat afloat. Be aware of waves and weather - and the motorboat traffic on the river.

When you see a boat with a threatening wake, move away from its course. As the first wave comes near, turn parallel to it so the boat will lift evenly. Keep both blades in light contact with the water and let the handles move upward and downward as the wave passes under you.

If a motor boat is approaching from the stern, change course 30 to 40 degrees away from the projected course of the vessel until its wake nearly reaches you, and then turn back toward the motorboat in order to meet the wave parallel to it. Rowing diagonally away gives you more time to put distance between you and the boat wake than if you have turned at right angles. In the wake, stop rowing and hold the oar handles loosely as your boat rises and falls.

Please be Kind to Our Neighbors

Remember, we are not the only group that uses the boathouse. We are tenants renting a portion of the space. If we leave things outside our area, it can make it very difficult for others to access their equipment. Please be sure to keep all rowing items on the back wall behind the red line, or close to the wall by the door for only the first 18 feet. The sailing group rents the space past that 18 feet and must be able to get their boats out when needed.

Whenever you are at the boathouse, you are a representative of DMRC. Those working in the concession stand, renting out equipment, and teaching sailing lessons have jobs to perform. You can make those a little easier by being kind and considerate.

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GLOSSARY OF ROWING TERMSBlade: the oar, also the end of the oar that is placed in the waterBow: the forward section of the boat; the first part of the boat to cross the finish line; the person in the seat closest to the bow who crosses the finish line first.Bowball: a rubber ball that protects the boat against damage in case of a collisionButton: a wide collar on the oar that keeps it from slipping through the oarlockCatch, or Entry: the moment the blade first enters the waterCheck: an unwanted motion of the boat when it appears to momentarily stop in the waterCLAM: Clip-on Load Adjusting Mechanism (C.L.A.M.) - a device that slides on and off the shaft of an oar to quickly adjust the inboard of an oar or scull. Adding one C.L.A.M. increases the inboard by 1 cm, decreasing the load the rower feels on the oars.Crab: a stroke that goes bad. The oar blade slices the water at an angle and gets caught under the surface. The blade is not fully feathered before leaving the water. This results in the blade being stuck in the water, severely slowing the boat down and throwing off the set. This term is from the claim that “a crab grabbed the blade and wouldn’t let go.” “Crab” is also used to describe when a rower’s blade jams in the water and he/she finds it impossible to get the oar out of the water at the end of the pull-through.Crew: The term “crew” is used in American schools and colleges to designate the sport of rowing. When outside of the academic sphere, then the sport is known as rowing. The British and European universities and schools have rowing clubs, not crew clubs. When you use the term crew, you do not need to use the term team. To say crew team is redundant.Deck: the part of the shell at the bow and stern that is covered with fiberglass cloth or a thin plastic.Drive: the part of the rowing cycle where the rower applies power to the buried blade.Double: a shell with two scullersErgometer: Rowers call it an "erg." It’s a rowing machine that allows a person to approximate the actual rowing motion.Feathering: turning the oar blade flat during the recovery to lessen wind resistanceFin, or Skeg: a small flat appendage located along the stern section of the hull which helps stabilize the shell in holding a straight courseFinish, or Release: the oar blade leaving the water at the end of a strokeGate: the bar across the oarlock that keeps the oar in placeGunnels, or Gunwales: the top edges of the shell-- the riggers are bolted into them.Heavyweight: a rowing category where there is no maximum weightHull: the outside skin of the boatInboard: the distance from the end of the handle to the blade-side face of the collar or the C.L.A.M. The greater the inboard, the lighter the oar or scull will feel in your hands, and the lighter the load will be when pulling through the water.Insert, or Spacer: the plastic bushing fitting on the top and bottom of an oarlock

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Jumped Seat: the unpleasant event that happens when a rower slips off his seat while rowingJumped Slide: when the seat comes off its slidesKeel: the centerline of the shellLightweight: refers to the rowers, not the boats; there is a maximum weight for each rower in a lightweight event, as well as a required boat average.Oar: used to drive the boat forward: rowers do not use paddlesOarlock: the D-shaped device at the end of the rigger in which the oar rests. There is a locking gate at the top to keep the oar in place.Outboard: the distance between the tip of the blade-side face of the collar or C.L.A.M. The greater the outboard, the heavier the oar of scull will feel and the greater the load in the water will be.Port: left side of the boat when facing the bow. In a rowing shell, “port” is “right,” since rowers face the stern of the boat.Power 10: a call for rowers to do ten of their best, most powerful strokes. It’s a strategy used to pull ahead of a competitor.Puddle: the effect in the water caused by the movement of the oar, particularly at the end of the strokeQuad: a boat with four scullersRacks: wood or metal structures in the boathouse used to hold the shellsReady-All, Row: starting command for most racesRecovery: the time between drives, when the blade of the oar is traveling through the airRigger: the triangular shaped metal device that is bolted onto the side of the boat and holds the oarsRudder: the device used to steer the shellRun: the run is the distance the shell moves during one stroke. You can calculate it by looking for thedistance between the puddles made by the same oar.Sculls: another word for “oars.” Sculling boats require each rower to use two oars, or sculls, to propel the boat forward.Shell: can be used interchangeably with “boat”Single: a one-person shellSky: the effect of lowering the handles of the oars so much that the blades are high above the waterSlide: the set of runners for the wheels on each seat in the boatStarboard: the right side of the boat, while facing the bow. In a rowing shell, “starboard” is “left,” since the rowers face the stern while rowingStern: the rear of the boat; the direction the rowers are facingStretcher, or Footstretcher: where the rower’s feet go. The stretcher consists of two inclined footrests that hold the rower’s shoes. The rower’s shoes are bolted into the footrests.

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Stroke: the rower who sits closest to the stern. The stroke sets the rhythm for a multiple-seat boat; others behind him/her must follow his/her cadence.Stroke coach: a small electronic display that rowers use in the boat to be able to know important race information such as stroke rate and elapsed time.Swing: the hard-to-define feeling when near-perfect synchronization of motion occurs in the shell, enhancing the performance and speed

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