Boats start off typically at 15 second intervals and all race the same course, often with many turns, following the course of the river. The rower whose back is closest to the front of the boat, i.e. the first rower to cross the finish line. Pictured below is one of IC's smaller launches, and assistant coach, Wei Quong. Records Don't ask about record times, since they are so influenced by weather conditions as to be virtually meaningless. Regatta Any rowing event involving competition.
Any race is a regatta, however, large or small.
The number of strokes per minute at which the team is rowing. At the start of the race, the rate is high perhaps 40 for an eight then settles to the low 30's for the body of the race, then may move back to the low 40's for a finishing sprint. When an oar blade enters the water at an angle, instead of perpendicularly, it can get caught under the surface. The catch is supposed to happen at the very end of the recovery, when the hands are as far ahead of the rower as possible. Rowers who begin to uncoil before they drop the oar blades are sacrificing speed by not getting a complete drive.