Latest news

Coxing
The guide

Lifting the Boat out of the Boathouse:

- Ensure the crew members are evenly spread along the boat (generally by their seat).
- The Cox should be at the Stern to make sure the boat is carried out straight and to protect the rudder and fin from damage.

Removing the Boat from the Middle Racks:

- The crew should brace the boat done by placing one hand on the side closest to them and reaching the other across the bottom of the boat to the far side.
- A count of Lifting out on 1,2,3 should be called upon which the crew should then lift the boat from the rack,
- Care should be taken to avoid hitting the bottom of the boat on the rack above.
- Once the boat has been removed from the rack the boat should be braced and individually 2 people should pass underneath the boat (this is usually Bow and 3).
- The boat can then be held at waists.
- One side of the boat can then be turned up on the command from the cox of either “Riverside Riggers coming up” OR “Landside Riggers coming up”.
- The Boat can then be carried out of the boathouse as explained above.

Removing the Boat from the Rolling Rack:

- The same procedure should be followed apart from there is no need to brace the boat.
- The boat should be pulled out from the racks carefully to the middle of the boathouse.
- Two members of the crew should be on each side of the boat opposite their seats.
- The boat can then be lifted straight to waists and from there Riggers up and carried out.

Removing the Boat from the Top Rack:

- Lifted out at low heads, the crew should take the boat out from the rack at heads but without their arms fully locked out.
- The Boat can then be brought down to Shoulders with the Saxboard resting on the shoulders of all 4 (making sure the crew splits to be position on alternate sides).
- One side of the riggers can then be taken down on a cox’s count of 3 and the boat carried out.
 

Once outside the Boathouse:

- The Cox should call for the boat to be lifted to Shoulders then Heads.
- The Boat should be taken down to the Pontoon to boat AGAINST the Tide; The Cox’s seat should be facing AGAINST the Tide.
- When standing on the concrete area directly outside the boathouse the bow of the boat should be pointing in the same direction as the movement of the current. If this is not the case the boat will have to be turned.
Note: The best way to establish which way to boat is to look at something floating on the waters surface.

 Turning the boat on land before the outing:

- This is done by walking the boat bow first round towards the gate opposite the ramp to the pontoon.
- As the cox ensure that you only instruct the crew to start walking to the left once the stern is fully clear of the boathouse.
- Once the boat has been turned the crew must be instructed to turn one by one to face the opposite direction.
- The boat can then be walked down the ramp.

 Once on the Pontoon:

- The crew should find the edge and then on the Coxes command of “Rolling down on 3 1,2,3”
- The crew should roll down the boat from heads to the waters surface in synchronisation. This should be done slowly and the cox MUST pay attention to the fin at this point as well as the rudder to make sure they are not damaged by hitting against the pontoon.
- The Blades can then be put in the gates: LANDED side first
- Then ensuring land side rowers are holding their riggers, riverside rowers can place their blades in.
- Coxes should also check blades are put in correctly the gates should be facing the stern and secured tightly.
- Riverside enter the boat first and then Landside. Landside holding the riggers.
- The Cox should then ask the crew to number off from Bow down the boat to make sure the crew is ready.
- Upon getting into the boat the call “Cox getting in” should be called.

Before pushing off the Pontoon:

- For safety reasons the cox should make sure that the crew know how to stop the boat quickly.
- This is done when the Cox makes the call “HOLD HER UP” upon hearing this the crew should all stop rowing and square their blades into the water to stop the boat as quickly as possible.
 

Start the outing:

- The cox can check that there are no oncoming boats in the river
- Then instruct landside to draw in their blades and push away from the pontoon. Once you have pushed off from the pontoon you must keep the river bank on your RIGHT HAND side.
- Along the straight with boats on either side of the Pontoon you must row in Pairs.
- Fours rowing can commence once the crew has passed the moored boats.
- When rowing in pairs the pair not rowing should be balancing the boat. This means that they sit with the legs bent and the blade tucked into their body. You will have to hold the blade in the same position, feathered resting on the waters surface.
 
IMPORTANT:

- Boats coming towards the boathouse have right of way on the river
- Any crews going away from the boathouse will need to be prepared to move out of the way.
- If you need to overtake a slower crew you must move outside of them but only if the other side of the river is clear of oncoming boats as they have priority over that side of the river.
- The cox will need to prepare the line of steering for this in advance before getting too close to the boat in front.
 

During outings in college boats:

- The boat is directed during the outing by the use of the rudder.
- In the college boats the steering is very unresponsive so you will need to think two or three lengths ahead in order to steer in the most beneficial manner.
- Whilst the boat is moving slowly particularly during pair work the steering in the boat takes even longer to respond therefore making a call to one side to row harder or one side to row lighter may be more profitable.
 
Steering:
- The basic method of steering is the same in both the Quad and the Sweep.
- The cox has two handles which are attached to the rudder cable.
- The piece of tape on the rudder cable in the cox seat marks the mid point where the boat will move in a straight line.
- Any deviance away from this taped line will send the boat in a different direction.
- Pushing forward with either the right or left hands allows the cox to steer.
- The best way to envisage steering for the first couple of outings is to imagine that your fingers are arrows pointing the way in which you want the boat to move. So pushing forward with the right hand will move the boat towards the bank on your right-hand side, Pushing with the left hand will move the boat closer to the bank on your left hand side.
 
Drifting:

- There will be times where the boat is not moving and drifts with the current. In this situation the cox will need to rely on the crew to steer the boat and correct the line.
- This is usually done with the use of Bow Pair (2 and Bow).
- If 2 takes a stroke it will push the boat away from the bank on strokeside and the opposite is true when Bow is asked to row on the boat will be push away from the bank on bowside.
 
Turning or spinning the boat:
- Usually done in the sweep and the Quad by using the End Pair (Stoke and Bow).
- In a Sweep Stroke backs down and Bow rows on.
- In the quad however both bow and Stroke turn the boat using only one blade.
- Stoke will back down with their stroke side blade and bow will row on with their bow side Blade.
- Turning cannot be undertaken on corners or in the way of other crews
- Once spinning is completed the cox should move the boat back over the side of the river so that the bank is close on their right hand side.
- The Cox should watch both the Bow and Stern whilst spinning.
- If the bow gets too close to the bank the bow needs to stop rowing on and if the stern gets too close to the bank stroke needs to stop backing down.
 
Landing the boat at the Pontoon:
- This must be done AGAINST the current.
- You should check which way the current is going before approaching the pontoon as the current can turn during the outing
- To land effectively easy the crew a couple of lengths before the boathouse.
- Tell Bow Pair to paddle gently.
- It is best to approach the pontoon VERY slowly rather than quickly or it can cause serious damage to the bow of the boat.
- Steer towards the pontoon for landing it is best to aim for the yellow squares at the end of the pontoon
- Watch Bowside blades. Bowside should lower their hands to raise the spoon of the blade for landing on the pontoon.
- After landing the Cox gets out first calling “Cox getting out”
- Holding the Riggers Landside gets out first followed by Riverside who must bring their blades across with them.
- Blades can then be removed from the boat again make sure that the Landside rowers are holding the riggers for Riverside to retrieve their blades.
- The gates should be fastened and pointed inwards before taking the boat out of the water.
 
Getting the boat out of the water:
- Each crew member stands by their seat.
- The Cox calls “hands on” the crew should hold the boat with one hand on the nearside and reach across to the other side of the boat with their other hand.
- The call lift to heads 1,2,3 should then be called and the crew should lift the boat straight to heads in one fluid movement.
- On lifting to heads the Cox should watch the rudder and the fin.
- The boat can then be walked up the ramp to the boathouse stern first.
- If the bow comes up the ramp first the boat should be walked straight forward towards the gate and turned.
- The boat should be placed on trestles and washed down before being put away.
- This is done from Heads, the crew will split to shoulders on the coxes count making sure the crew splits alternate sides along the boat.
- From shoulders the boat can then be brought to waists and placed on trestles.
- The boat should not rest on any riggers.
- After washing the boat can then be put back on the racks.

Taking the boat back in:

- Lift the boat from trestles to waists
- Then bring riggers up and carry the boat into the boathouse.
- The boat can then be placed on the racks by splitting to waists and placing it on sliding floor racks
- Splitting to waists and bracing the boat to place it on a middle rack
- Or by lifting from riggers up to shoulders and then low heads and placing it on the top rack.
- When the boats are placed on the racks the cox must then check that the boat is not resting on any riggers and that the gates point inwards.
 

Last Point:

- When coxing do not be afraid to be cautious the crew would rather you kept saying easy oars and straightening the boat that driving them into banks and trees and having to spend the best part of their outing getting out of such situations.

 Basic things to look for a in a stroke:

 The crew are squaring and feathering together. Listening to the gates will tell you if this is the case.
 The crew are setting a good rhythm.
 The crew should be catching and finishing together. Shouting catch at the point where they should catch and finish can help with timing.
 Make sure all the crew are drawing in to their reference points and getting a firm tap down. The draw into the body should be done straight into the body rather than in an arch.
 If the boat is unbalanced it is likely to be due to hand heights if the boat is down on Strokeside for example make a call for bowside to lower their hands and for stroke side to tap down less.
 From the catch the legs should break first, the back should still be bent over and straight, once the legs are flat the back can be opened and arms used to finish the stroke. Opening the back too early wastes the power from the legs.
 Draw in heights exercises will be helpful to do at some point in the next few outings to make sure all members of the crew know where to draw in to. This is done by taking a stroke and letting go of the blade so it drifts into the body and hits at the draw in point.
 Good blade depth is important. This can be helped by practising basic backstop taps to help the crew to feel where the blade should sit in the water. This can be done in pairs.
 In the sweep the crew should be told to break their legs apart when taking the stroke to get extra reach rather than all rowing legs together which can lead to missing water at the catch. The inside arm is used to square and feather and the outside arm is used to pull. The outside arm should reach inside the legs. The outside shoulder should also be raised.
 Missing water at the finish can be avoided by making sure the crew pivot from the hips at the end of the stroke again getting extra reach.
 In the quad make sure everyone in the crew is rowing left hand over the right. Arms should be opened as you come forward up the slide to the catch. Backs should remain straight.
 Make sure the crew knows most of the power and consequently the speed of the boat comes from the kick off the legs and the push away from the footplate. Practising power of 10's may be useful for this purpose and you may wish to try to get power application from the legs engaged at the same time throughout the boat.
 Make sure the crew knows the position of front stops (at the catch, legs bent arms straight, blade away from the body) and backstops (legs straight, arms bent, blade into the body)
 When you make calls such as next stroke, easy oars make sure you make the calls at the CATCH not the finish as this will not give the crew enough time to respond.
 Don't be afraid to get a bit mean if the crew doesn't listen to you, they should be listening to you at all times when you are in the coxing seat you are in charge of the boat and anything that goes good or bad in it.