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Hi Cam, No problem. 376com overall length (C2 Skinny oars, handles were whatever the boys were comfortable with so some had veneer, some rubber etc) 82.5cm spread and 112.5 inboard.

Im not sure what you mean by backing it in?

@@tonyoconnor8690 Sorry, I should have been more specific in my phrasing. I mean that when you are at the catch and putting your blades in the water, one waits until the blades are fully submerged before starting the drive in any manner. As opposed to moving the blades slightly with the water so as to slip into it without much splash at the catch.

@@derimon8802 I feel the only stroke one can fully submerge the blade, and then move the body mass/seat towards the bow, is the very first one while the boat is stationary. Relative to the blade there is no movement of the water. As soon as the boat is moving if you try to cover the blade with no movement of the handle towards the bow, then you are starting to apply a negative pressure on the pin.. In other words you are actually trying to slow the boat ‘reverse' the boat/ back it in. I’ve heard some (not many ) coaches ask their rowers to try to create backsplash at the entry point. If you do this you are imparting pressure on the back of the blade, which in turn imparts a naive pressure on the pin and in fact starts to decelerate the boat. It’s not rocket science to realise that at the entry point, the first part of the blade to touch the water is the bottom part. No matter how quick someone is with the handle lift, the boat will have travelled a small distance in the time that the top of the blade is finally covered. This is the slip that is inevitable. The better the rower, the quicker the blade is filled with water. But remember we are trying to lever the boat move in a forward direction, not retard the run by backing the blade in. Too many people start with the notion that it is the blade which is the most important movement at the catch. It is , in my opinion, the continuous movement of the boat which is the only motion we should be interested in. I would encourage folks to try to create backsplash at the catch and see/feel the juddering feeling in their hands and the boat. Then I would ask them to take half the stroke to cover the blade. This will be a lot smoother but of course they won’t be levering the boat very effectively. The true catch lies somewhere in between. Cover quickly, with the movement of the blade just about matching (or slightly faster) than the speed of the boat at the point of entry. Get it in quickly, gather the water and lever the boat smoothly, immediately but powerfully with little disruption to the bow run.

I typed naive, I mean negative. Mind you thinking about it naive might actually be a good description!

Its a great question. Actually, the answer to that question is the secret to fast rowing. The entry and application portion of the stroke cycle is absolutely the most vital part in my opinion and unfortunately the hardest to achieve successfully. Defining succesfully, I mean can you fill up the blade with water as quickly as possible with the blade in the optimum position losing little arc while covering, but at the same time applying work and most importantly not upsetting the smooth run of the shell. A lot to think about and feel in a split second but worth aiming for. How do I approach that?? I could be here all night and still not answer that one. I think first and foremost you discuss with (not tell) the athlete the reason why this is the correct approach. (If you actually believe it is) Constantly looking at the blade while trying to achieve this is vital. Ignore those people who say you shouldn't look at your blade. Nonsense! Of course you should. You don't look out the window when you are signing a cheque! Certainly trying to reduce splash or at least having a little splash on BOTH sides of the blade is an aim. I often ask the rowers to imagine a fish under the water just where the blade is to enter. You need to get the blade in behind the fish and strongly but carefully push the fish with your blade. If you are too slow the fish will just swim away. If you are too fast you will hurt the fish. It's a matter of matching you and your blade speed to the speed of the boat. Just join in tho the existing speed and then add to it, powerfully but with care and wisdom. I could do this all night as I said but hopefully that will get you thinking. Longest reply ever for the best question ever! Thanks

@@tonyoconnor8690 Thank you for the (extensive) response! We often try and use the mindset that the water is full of poles which we want to 'hook' our blade behind without slamming into it, but this often has mixed results. I like your fish example a lot more! Will definitely steal this one to use in the future.

@@dl4233j Maybe the pole should be made of crystal. Strong if loaded correctly but fragile if hit too hard?

@@tonyoconnor8690 That's actually a great addition, never thought of that! I also have a follow up question on the catch, specifically on the movement towards the water. There is a training video (don't remember wich one) of Steve Gladstone (Yale University) mentioned 'twisting' the blade into the water. The way I've normally heard it however is moving the blade towards the water and 'dropping' the blade just before arriving at the catch. This does however result in catches which are quite slow and often still too late. Actively twisting the blade into the water allows for a quicker entry but then often results in a loss of relaxation and ability to properly connect. What would be your take on this?

@@dl4233j Can you expalin what you mean by twisting it in? Thanks

Is the pope still Catholic?

@@tonyoconnor2744 Lol, is there a possibility I could ask a question regarding technique?

@@krestmis Of course. I'll do my best to answer.

​@@tonyoconnor8690 I was wondering what you are looking for regarding length at the catch? If I remember correctly you mentioned in an interview with Martin Cross that you like the shins fairly perpendicular, what about the positioning of the shoulder and hip angle?

No idea. To be honest I've never worried too much about numbers. Feel the movement, and the numbers will be good.

Not a pause. The handle never stops moving. Its a careful change of direction of the handle allowing everyone to quietly sync up the movement of the body mass out of the boys which creates free speed (Newtons 3rd law). Initially a couple of them did actually stop the handle at the finish, but we all agreed that since the water flows continuously, and the boat does likewise, we, as rowers should keep moving too.

@@tonyoconnor8690 Thanks for the clarification. I'm relatively new to the sport, and my coaches and teammates have never used that careful change at the finish.

@@MisterJeffy All good! I reckon (just my opinion) that whatever we are doing in the boat we should be careful. We all like to work hard when rowing, but we need to ensure all that good work does not upset the ability of the boat to glide as it was designed.

A metal straw usually used as a visual cue to get more length in the rowing stroke

it's a white ziptie we tape to the hull at the correct catch angle + handle height, metal rod would mess your hands up

Go on…….

many of us i think

No idea Callum. Honestly cant remember.

@@tonyoconnor8690 no worries! Thanks for the reply!

Very light effort, low heart rate.

@@EwanMorrow lower than UT2?

@@akkornemtudom9571 yes. Very very easy.

@@EwanMorrow even with low hr they look fast :D

What on earth are you in about?😂

@@Anthony-zl9ww well, “I’m in about” when backsplash was an actual thing. Now just a bunch of chopping at the catch. IYKYK.

​@renaissanceman8581 hahaha wtf 😂 what's happening now is what makes the boat go fastest 😂 if you think an overly exentuated back splash is better then you're just a muppet

@@AxelPRC show me the faster times! With all this technology and advances in training topped off with these missed catches, sorry! Awesome new technique, should see all these new fast times. I’ll wait, chode!

@renaissanceman8581 what in the hell are you talking about? The world records are consistently getting broken 😂 high school crews go as fast as elite crews from the 80's 😂

Imogen, I have no idea. I tend to actively avoid screens and numbers. I look for what makes the boat go fast, then aim to recreate it. The rate was just a byproduct or outcome of speed.

Good boat!

bruh

Hi Andy, Somehow Ive never held to that or many other conventions when seating a crew. You've got the pieces of the jigsaw in your hand and you arrange them until it looks right. It's not convention to put the two tallest men in stroke and bow, or your most experienced man in two, yet that where they make the boat go fastest. I think two many coaches are hamstrung by convention. We were coached by rowers. Our coaches were coached by rowers and their coaches in turn. Sounds a lot like inbreeding to me. What was acceptable for royal families of old should not be acceptable to us. I'd urge coaches to think a bit outside the "traditional" rowing box. In fact, if someone tells them something, I'd say ask "why". Unless there is a very good reason for doing something (and because we've always done it is no reason!) then question it.

Thank you very much for the extensive reply…. Very cool!

@@tonyoconnor8690 100% agree. I'm not sure if it's a rowing thing but there always seem to be a belief among many that there is a right or a wrong way. I think we have plenty of examples even as recent as Paris that there are many ways.