Advertisement

SWEEP ROWING AND SCULLING

Reading Time:1 minute
Why you can trust SCMP
0

In sweep rowing, each oarsman handles one oar. In sculling, the rower uses two smaller oars. Sweep oared races are contested in two-, four- and eight-person boats (known as pairs, fours and eights, respectively). Sculling races are contested in one-, two- and four-man shells (single, double, and quad).

Steering in sweep oared boats is accomplished with the use of a movable rudder. It is handled by either a steersman who sits at the bow or stern of the boat or a rower at the bow or stroke seat using a foot-controlled rudder. Singles and doubles are usually manoeuvred by a change in pressure between the port and starboard oars. A quad is typically controlled with a foot rudder.

International rowing is contested in two weight categories for men and women, lightweight and open. Lightweight oarsmen are restricted to a body weight of 72.5 kilograms (men) and 59 kg (women). The average weight of the open class (heavyweight) in international competitions is about 92 kg and 79 kg respectively.

Advertisement
Advertisement