April 2, 2002
GW Launches 15th Annual Regatta
Invitational Scheduled for April 13
GW is set to host the 15th
annual George Washington Invitational Crew Classic, the metropolitan
area’s largest collegiate rowing competition.
The April 13 regatta on the Potomac River is part of the on-going National
Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs through April 8.
Rowing faithful will need to make their way to Thompson’s Boat
House at the bottom of Virginia Avenue or Washington Harbour in Georgetown
by 8 am if they want to catch the preliminary heats. The 2,000-meter,
four-lane buoyed course begins near the Spout Run area of the Potomac
River with the finish line in front of the Washington Harbour. The finals
are scheduled to begin at 1:20 pm, and an awards ceremony will follow
the competition at approximately 5 pm.
More than 400 rowers from 10 universities, including GW, are expected
to take part in the day-long event. Men’s and women’s squads
from George Mason, Georgetown, St. Joseph’s, the US Naval Academy,
and Virginia will compete for the Gilbert H. Hood, Jr. Point Trophy.
Also competing will be a men’s crews from Marietta and Temple and
the Columbia and Tennessee women.
Men’s and women’s categories this year include: varsity eights,
second varsity eights, varsity fours, novice eights and second novice
eights.
Last year, Georgetown won the Hood Point trophy with 73 points followed
by Navy (71) and Virginia with 44. Virginia won the women's varsity
eight while Temple won the men’s varsity eight.
The Tao of Rowing
For those unfamiliar with the sport, a quick primer and a sunny day
are all that is necessary to enjoy a day at the races. US Rowing contributed
some of the following information.
What to Watch For
At the start: The goal is to get the scull moving as quickly
as possible. Some boats will “flutter” at the start, taking
several short quick strokes. Look for GW to employ more power with a
three-quarter, half, three-quarter stroke combination before settling
into their full stroke cadence. The idea is to pick the boat out of
the water with the first stroke, keep the momentum going with the shorter
stroke and then use the third stroke to accelerate into a race rhythm.
During the race: Watch and listen for the coxswain’s call
for a “big-10.” The term refers to 10 longer than usual strokes.
The move is used to make a charge or counter one by another boat. Teams
might only call one or two in a given race because the maneuver is tiring
and too many can be like crying wolf.
At the finish: In the last quarter of the race boats will head
into sprint. Coxswains will tell the rowers how much to pick up their
stroke per-minute by calling “up-two” or “up-three.”
Rowing for the Cycle
Release: A sharp downward (and away) motion of the hand serves
to remove the oar blade from the water and start the rowing cycle.
Feathering: The act of turning the oar blade from a position
perpendicular to the surface of the water to a position parallel to
the water. This is done in conjunction with the release.
Recovery: Part of the rowing cycle from the release up to and
including where the oar blade enters the water.
Squaring: A gradual rolling of the oar blade from a position
parallel to the water to a position (almost) perpendicular to the surface
of the water. This is accomplished during the recovery portion of the
rowing cycle and is done in preparation for the catch.
Catch: The point of the rowing cycle at which the blade enters
the water at the end of the recovery and is accomplished by an upward
motion of the arms and hands only. The blade of the oar must be fully
squared at the catch.
Drive: That part of the rowing cycle when the rower applies power
to the oar. This is a more (or less) blended sequence of applying power
primarily with a leg drive, then the back and finally the arms.
Finish: The last part of the drive before the release where the
power is mainly coming from the back and arms.
Layback: The amount of backward lean of the rower’s body
at the end of the finish.
Not a Local Delicacy
Crab: A problem encountered by a rower when an oar gets ‘stuck’
in the water, usually right after the catch or just before the release,
and is caused by improper squaring or feathering. The momentum of the
shell can overcome the rower’s control of the oar. In more extreme
cases the rower can actually be ejected from the shell by the oar.
Well Equipped
Blades: The wide flat section of the oar at the head of the shaft,
also known as the spoon. This term is often used when referring to the
entire oar. Hatchets, big blades, choppers, or cleavers are a relatively
new design of oar blades. They are what the names indicate — oar
blades that have a bigger surface area than the ‘standard’
blades and have a hatchet or meat cleaver shape.
Scull: This term is used interchangeably when referring to one
of the oars used in a sculling shell, the shell itself or to the act
of rowing a sculling shell.
Rigger (or outrigger): The device that connects the oarlock to
the shell and is bolted to the body of the shell.
Pitch: The angle between the blade and a line perpendicular to
the water’s surface.
Gunwale (or gunnel, saxboard): Top section on the sides of a
shell that runs along the sides of the crew section where the rowers
are located.
Keel: Technically, the structural member running the length of
the boat at the bottom of the hull. Today, some shells are built without
this member so the term often refers to the center line of the shell.
Rudder: Steering device at the stern. The rudder in turn is connected
to some cables (tiller ropes) that the coxswain can use to steer the
shell.
Skeg (or Fin): A small fin located along the stern section of
the hull. This helps to stabilize the shell in holding a true course
when rowing.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu
