Boat Positions in the Sport of Rowing:

While rowing, each individual is assigned a specific position on the boat. This position is numbered in a numerically ascended manner, starting from the bow of the boat and ending at the stern. The individual in the first spot is often called the ‘bowman,’ or the ‘bow.’ On the other hand, the individual closest to the stern is referred to as the ‘strokeman’ or the ‘stroke.’ However, there are always exceptions to these classifications. In the United Kingdom for example, coastal rowers number their rowers from stern up to the bow. Of course, aside from the bowman and strokeman, other crewmembers have different titles and roles. We will be discussing boat positions in the coxed sweep oar eight.

The Stern Pair

As discussed in the previous paragraph, the ‘strokeman’ is the individual located closest to the stern of the boat. The ‘stroke’ is an essential player in rowing, and the rest of the crew follow the stroke’s timing while rowing. It is the stokeman’s responsibility for establishing the crew’s rowing rate and rowing rhythm. If the stroke rows to slowly, he or she will set a very low number of strokes per minute for the entire boat. If the stoke begins to row too vigorously, he or she might tire out the rest of the crew too early.  Furthermore, the stroke leads the boat, and communicates with the coxswain to get feedback and an understanding of how the rest of the crew is doing. The stroke maintains the entire rhythm of the boat, and it is essential for this person to be very technically sound.

The rower next in line after the stroke acts as a buffer or middleman between the stroke and the rest of the crew. Numbered seven on a numerical line, they are another important member of the crew. By acting as a buffer between the stroke and the rest of the crew, they transmit the rowing information and rhythm that the strokesman sets. If the strokesman speeds of or slows down the rate of their rowing, it is essential that rower seven follows suit for the rest of the boat. Furthermore, the middle crewmembers in a boat are in fact called the ‘middle crew.’ We will discuss the purpose of the middle crew below.

The Middle Crew – The Fuel Tank, The Engine Room, The Power House, The Meat Wagon

The middle crew has numerous nicknames for themselves as shown in the title.  In an eight-person boat, the middle crew is made of numbered individuals three, four, five, and six.  In a four-person boat, the middle rowers are numbers two and three. Because the boat moves less in the middle, the middle crew is often the most powerful and heaviest of rowers.  They are referred to as the ‘fuel tank,’ the ‘engine room,’ or other nicknames because their focus is simply pulling on oars as hard as they can.  It is not necessary for these middle crewmates to be exceptionally reactive or technically sound (like the strokesman). The middle crew is known for their brawn, and it is common for the most technical rowers to be placed at the bow and stern with the strongest rowers in the middle.

The Bow Pair

The rower closest to the bow of the boat is called the ‘bow’ or the ‘bowman.’ It is the bowman’s responsibility for the stability of the entire boat. They are expected to be quick and agile, responsible for not only the stability of the boat, but the direction of the boat as well. As expected, the bowman is expected to be quite technically skilled. Furthermore, boats that are bow coxed are dependent on effective communication between the bowman and the cox. The cox cannot see boats coming from behind them, and good communication is essential.  Also, it is important to note that unlike the middle crew, the bowmen are typically the smallest rowers in the boat.

The Steersman

If rowing in coxless pairs, quadruple sculls, or coxless fours, one of the oarsmen are designated as a steersman. The steersman’s job is to steer the boat by moving his or her foot, as a line attached to the toe of the steersman’s shoe controls the rudder. It should be further noted that the steersman is chosen based on experience and their position in the boat – it is essential for the steersman to have a clear vantage point of the rowing route.

Rigging of the Boat

A boat is typically commanded with alternate rowers on the port and starboard with the stroke on the port side. If a boat reverses this organization, it is considered ‘bow rigged.’

Alternative rigging include tandem middle pairs where the middle pairs of rowers row on the same side of the boat. Notably, about half of finalists in the World Cup and World Championships tandem middle pair rigged.

The last position of the boat we will discuss is the coxswain or cox.

The Coxswain

The purpose of a coxswain is steering the boat, providing encouragement to the rest of the crew, communication to the crew of how close they are to the finish line, and any other race tactic calls.

Boats who do not have coxswains are considered coxless or ‘straight’ boats. Boats of eight almost always have a coxswain while pairs and fours often go coxless.

If the coxswain sits in the stern opposite to the Stroke, it is considered stern-coxed. If the coxswain is located behind the bowman, it is considered bow-coxed.

Coxswains are essential for communication to the rest of the crew. Pre-1970s coxswains communicated to the rest of the crew with a megaphone strapped to their heads. Since then, a ‘cox box’ system has been established allowing a more effective communication between the coxswain and the rest of the crew. In a boat, the entire crew is responsible for his or her position and all of the duties it entails.

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