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What is Crew all about?
Rowing Technique- The Mike Spracklen Method
POWER, LENGTH, AND RATE
Three factors determine the speed of the boat. They are:
1. POWER- How FAST the boat travels each stroke
2. LENGTH- How FAR the boat travels each stroke
3. RATE- How MANY strokes are rowed.
POWER
Maximal power is achieved by appropriate sequencing of the contributing muscles from strongest to weakest.
LEGS FIRST......The quadriceps and gluteals
Then the BACK..... The lower back
Then the SHOULDERS and ARMS... The latissimus dorsi, trapezius, rhomboids, and biceps.
The STROKE
The boat is only as fast as the blades drive it.
The power transferred through the blade to the boat is only as much as the legs supply.
A good technique is based on the work of the legs to create most of the total power.
WHAT KIND OF BOATS ARE USED?
THE BOATS (OR SHELLS)
THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO TYPES OF BOATS THAT REFLECT THE TWO FORMS OF ROWING---SWEEP ROWING AND SCULLING. AT BISHOP IRETON WE DO NOT COMPETE IN SCULLING RACES. IN SWEEP ROWING EACH ROWER HANDLES A SINGLE OAR (ABOUT 12.5 FT OR 3.9 M LONG) IN SCULLING A ROWER USES TWO OARS, OR SCULLS, (EACH ABOUT 9.5 FT OR 3 M LONG). THE WORD SHELL IS OFTEN USED IN REFERENCE TO THE BOATS USED BECAUSE THE HULL IS ONLY ABOUT 1/8" TO 1/4" THICK TO MAKE IT AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE. THESE SHELLS ARE ALSO RATHER LONG AND RACING SHELLS ARE AS NARROW AS POSSIBLE WHILE RECREATIONAL ONES CAN BE RATHER WIDE. MOST SHELLS TODAY ARE MADE OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS SUCH AS CARBON FIBER, FIBERGLASS, OR KEVLAR. A FEW MANUFACTURERS STILL BUILD WOODEN BOATS.
EACH ROWER HAS HIS BACK TO THE DIRECTION THE SHELL IS MOVING AND POWER IS GENERATED USING A BLENDED SEQUENCE OF THE ROWER'S LEGS, BACK AND ARMS. THE ROWER SITS ON A SLIDING SEAT WITH WHEELS ON A TRACK CALLED THE SLIDE.
EACH OAR IS HELD IN A U-SHAPED SWIVEL (OARLOCK) MOUNTED ON A METAL PIN AT THE END OF A RIGGER. THE RIGGER IS AN ASSEMBLY OF TUBES THAT IS TIGHTLY BOLTED TO THE BODY OF THE SHELL.THE EXCEPTION TO THIS ARE SOME EUROPEAN RECREATIONAL BOATS CALLED "INRIGGERS" WHICH HAVE THE OARLOCK ATTACH DIRECTLY ON THE GUNWALE. THE SUBTYPES OF ROWING SHELLS ARE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF ROWERS IN THE SHELL.
