Technical Info
Technical Info
Rowing Definitions & Boat Rigging Guide
Definitions
- U23:A Competitor may compete in the U23 category until December 31 of the year of their 22nd birthday
- Youth:A Youth is a competitor who, in the current calendar year, does not attain the age of 19 or who, in the current calendar year, does not attain the age of 20 and has been continuously enrolled in a secondary school as a full-time student seeking a diploma. A Competitor thus ceases to be a Youth after December 31 of the year of their 18th birthday (U19) or upon completion of the 12th grade of secondary school, having been a full-time student within the year of them.
- 19th birthday (U20):Athletes older than U20 are never eligible to compete as Youth.
Note: This definition is under review due to a submitted rule change. - U17:A competitor may compete in the U17 category until December 31 of their 16th birthday.
- U16:A Competitor may compete in the U16 category until December 31 of the year of them 15th birthday.
- U15:A Competitor may compete in the U15 category until December 31 of the year of them 14th birthday.
Rowing Boats Basic Rigging
Here, we'll try to help you set up your boat and oars — because without that setup, the tendency would be to compensate for misalignment, often causing defects in the stroke, poor posture, or even back pain and problems.
I'll try to shed some light, and that's why l've made some illustrations to help. I hope I can help!
Place the oars on the ground, with the blade facing down, as shown in the figure.
Make sure the floor is leveled 0º.
Place the pitchmeter or protractor and level on top of the oarlock (where the oar sits) to check the oar pitch.
I recommend writing down and keeping these measurements, and if possible, label each oar with its respective angle.
The standard has been set at 0°, making equipment adjustment and standardization easier.
Standard oar length for sculling oars: 3.00 m for Macon blades and 2.89 m (with variations down to 2.86 m depending on the athlete's weight) for Big Blade or Smoothie blades.
Inboard length: Should be adjusted to 89 cm, from the oarlock back to the end of the handle (average measurement can vary down to 87 cm depending on the athlete's weight and strength).
These measurements are standard but can be adjusted according to each rower's physical characteristics.
Place a ruler across the gunwales (assuming they are symmetrical) and measure the height from the ruler to the bottom of the oarlock (X), and from the ruler to the deepest part of the seat track (Y).
The sum of X + Y gives you the height of each oarlock.
Repeat the process for the other side.
Starboard should be 1 cm higher than port, and the heights vary from 14 to 17 cm depending on the rower's height.
The difference in height between port and starboard must be 1cm, with port being lower
You can raise the oarlocks by placing washers on the pin, below or above the oarlock.
For older oarlocks, you can adjust the height by adding washers to the bolts holding the oarlocks (to raise it, place washers underneath).
Spread (Z) A standard measurement is 160 cm, but it can vary according to the athlete's wingspan. For taller rowers, it can go up to 162 cm; for shorter rowers or women, 156-158 cm.
Leveling the boat both longitudinally and transversely by placing it on two trestles; if needed, shim one to level.
If possible, it's good to secure the boat in the leveled position using two clamps and two battens attached to the oarlocks.
Remove the oarlocks and measure the distance from the center of one pin to the center of the other (Spread), making sure that the distance from each pin to the center of the boat is equal.
Measure the plumb of the pin using a protractor and level or pitchmeter. The pins should initially be vertical. Later, you may adjust them to have a 1.5° outward tilt if the rower wants a tighter finish or if the oar tends to slightly sink at the end of the stroke.
To make the pins vertical, you may need to slightly bend the oarlocks — a normal procedure even in high-performance boats.
We will use a standard measurement of 4° for each oar. Once the pins are vertical, check the oar angle; if it's 0°, use the blue Concept bushings, number 4/4.
For example, if the oars have a 1° angle, use 3/5 bushings - the 3° from the oarlock plus the 1° from the oar equals 4° total.
Tie a string from oarlock to oarlock (from one backstop to the other) to mark the centerline of the boat.
Move the seat forward (sternward), and looking from above, you'll see the track overlap, which should vary from 2 to 16 cm.
Place the protractor against the foot stretcher board, keeping its arm horizontal using the level. The foot stretcher angle should vary from 40° to 45° depending on the rower's flexibility and comfort.
The height of the foot stretcher is measured from the bottom of the shoe to the bottom of the seat, using a tape measure.
But the most practical way is adjusting it for comfort, ensuring you can open your stroke well at the catch, which varies with each rower's flexibility.
Note: There are more precise adjustments to check the boat's alignment and waterline, but I hope this guide helps you adjust your boat for better performance and greater comfort in your rowing.