Boat Handling Review 2011

Boat Handling Review 2011

Luanne Suplick

●        Follow coach's and coxswain's commands ONLY.  One voice to ensure safety, minimize confusion, and to be quick and efficient.  No talking, be alert and listen.  (We don't want to waste time in the bay that we could be on the water rowing.)

●        Bunch together at each end to be ready to support the weight of the boat. This year we are not bunching by height.  Only exception is if 1 or 2 of the 4 at one end are much taller than the others. 

●        Typical Commands (Usually 2 parts to the command, what to do and when to do it) "Hands on” or “lay hold,” " Up an inch and up," “Walk it out of the rack," (Crawl under--if needed), "Up to shoulders and up," Up and over heads and up," "Split heads," "Down to shoulders and down," "walk it out."

●        Be sure to go to the opposite side of the person in front of you. Since the bow is facing out of the boathouse, bow person will lead and the rest should follow, going to the opposite side.

●        At the dock, move quickly, go all the way to the farthest point down river on the dock--bow pointing upriver: "Way enough," "Up and over heads and up," "toe to the edge," "ready to roll and roll," "Port get oars, starboard get oarlocks," "Ready--one foot in and down," "tie in quickly (or tie in on the water, adjust on the water), "count up from bow", "sit ready to shove and shove," "bow push us off..."

●         Be sure to take special care of the boat’s riggers.  Do not lean on riggers, do not pull the boat down the dock by the riggers, do not place the boat on the racks on the riggers, don’t hang towels on the riggers.  The riggers are set a certain level and pitch.  They can bend easily.  Handle the boat by the gunwales.

●        Once back at the dock, untie quickly, count up from bow, and listen for the command “one foot up and out,” moving together in unity to get out of the boat.

●        Bunch to each end, “Hands on,” “Ready to roll, up and over heads and up” all facing the same direction: we have made it the standard to face upstream, so that everyone is on the same page.  Since the bow faces upstream, follow bow person’s lead to “split heads” to opposite sides.  Make sure all heads are split before “down to shoulders”

●        Upon returning to the bay, boat is to be wiped down, once again, listen for the coxswain’s voice to ensure proper placement of the boat onto the racks and clear of the riggers.

●        Wait! Don’t run off just yet!...Put the oars away.

●        If your boat or oars have sustained any damage or any other equipment issues, be sure to file a report.  Forms are located on the door of the repair bay.

●        Let’s make it clean and efficient!  Looking professional!