Rowing Chat

Hello

Trainee/beginner rower here... I have about a year's experience in kayaking however

Theres usually a slight cross at Dorney so make sure your bow dudes know to point your bow slightly into the wind on the start. Also know all the circulation patterns and shiz. And the Pineapple pub in Dorney does great sandwiches if you need somewhere to go between races.

Bleh. They're selecting coxes for Henley tomorrow, and I could have been in a men's boat for sure had one of our most experience coxes not come back. It's a bit unfair because she didn't train at all during the exam period (using the fact that she's a finalist as an excuse, but eh, so I am and I'm still on the water), which the rest of us did, and she's essentially only coming back for Henley. Now we all know she's got more chances of being selected than we do, and it kinds of ruins the efforts we put in…

Rowing does tend to be cruel like that.

I saw you in Rowing and Regatta

Didn't you know? I'm a big deal now.

Bleh. They're selecting coxes for Henley tomorrow, and I could have been in a men's boat for sure had one of our most experience coxes not come back. It's a bit unfair because she didn't train at all during the exam period (using the fact that she's a finalist as an excuse, but eh, so I am and I'm still on the water), which the rest of us did, and she's essentially only coming back for Henley. Now we all know she's got more chances of being selected than we do, and it kinds of ruins the efforts we put in…

Anyone coxed/rowed at Dorney before? Any tips?

I'm coxing the Uni Dev Squad at met regatta next weekend - I'm doing a IV+ and possibly an VIII+ (although the cox of the other IV+ is more experienced than me so I'm probably not doing that one!)

Thanks!

Also, when thinking about your race plan - i'd really prepare for a gusty head wind which will die down in the last ~500m. I've only ever known Dorney to be flat (rare) or some form of head wind (usually a cross head favouring the 1st couple of lanes) but it does get more sheltered towards the finish. Hope this helps!

That definitely is helpful to know, thanks very much! Is there something to stop the headwind near the end or is it just that the wind doesn't blow as much there?

This has just happened in our squad only the cox picked had hardly trained all year! Its not a fun experience at all.

Bleh. They're selecting coxes for Henley tomorrow, and I could have been in a men's boat for sure had one of our most experience coxes not come back. It's a bit unfair because she didn't train at all during the exam period (using the fact that she's a finalist as an excuse, but eh, so I am and I'm still on the water), which the rest of us did, and she's essentially only coming back for Henley. Now we all know she's got more chances of being selected than we do, and it kinds of ruins the efforts we put in…

It just depends on what your priorities are, which should really be laid out bare at the start of the season - are you going to choose the crew based on commitment, or ability?

This exactly - should be made aware of early on!

Didn't you know? I'm a big deal now.

You're both right, it's very cruel, but unfortunately unless you're in a 'casual' or 'friendly' boat it comes down to winning or not, and getting your club known in the rowing circles as being a successful club, which will then attract more members (and high quality rowers too).

When I was training for HoRR a few years ago, we were told "If an Olympic rower joins the club the day before HoRR, he will take a seat in the boat and the weakest crewmember will go." Shortly before HoRR a guy who had rowed for GB Juniors was invited to row with us, he took a place in the first boat, the guy who lost the seat in that boat moved into our (the second) boat, and one of our guys had to miss out (fortunately it wasn't me, phew!). A shame, but you know what, our boat was significantly improved.

It's always bad for one person, but as cruel as it is, usually better for everyone else involved - the crew, the coach, and the club. It just depends on what your priorities are, which should really be laid out bare at the start of the season - are you going to choose the crew based on commitment, or ability?

Yeah it's a little harsh if it isn't, but within the rowing scene it is sort of expected if you're in a crew that is expecting high success. It can be a bit of a shock if you're not used to it, but once you've been in rowing for a while you realise it's normal across all rowing clubs for that to happen particularly with coxes.

In a way, it's sort of a compliment to the position of the cox - that it's such an influential position that people are willing to pass over 'friendships' and 'loyalty' to have a cox with the best abilities.

But yeah, it's not nice to happen to you!

My club's senior men crew after being beaten by UW at Henley: "Sooo… We knew Washington could row"
I'm quite jealous of the fact that they've got so much space to train, and the scenery's so nice.