With Two Oars (Book)

Reflections on Sculling

by William B. Irvine

“Set” is defined as a stable boat.

Boats should be rowed with perfect symmetry.

Most of part one deals with the fear of flipping. Author believes the fear of flipping causes rowers to keep their blades too close to the water in an effort to keep their boat from flipping.

Various tap drills are discussed. The rower taps the oars to make the boat less stable during different phases of the stroke to try to overcome the fear of flipping.

Part two is a dissection of the four parts of the rowing stroke and how to execute them

Chapter 7, Catch

Early roll-up vs late roll-up, when you start rotating your hands, late roll-up offers less wind resistance Going downwind, consider not feathering

Slide until shins are vertical

Bend at waist

Hands outside the hull

60 degree catch angle, shorter rowers need to bend more

Reaching farther with one hand arguably best way to turn a boat

Match speed of blades to water or you splash

Shallow catch makes a tearing sound, shallow then deep makes a kerplunk

Chapter 8, Drive

Don’t extend legs without pulling on oars, this is a wasteful motion called slide shooting

Flex back, will cause chest to puff out, be proud of your rowing!

Keep chin up during catch helps with back flex

Chapter 10, Recovery

References: Rowing Biomechanics Newsletter