Welcome to Gonzaga University Rowing.
Below is a list of common terms used in rowing.

The Boat

Bow: Front of the boat.
Stern: Back of the boat.
Bowside:The left hand side of the boat as you face the bow.
Sternside:The right hand side of the boat as you face the bow.
Port:Left side of the boat when looking from stern to bow.
Starboard:Right side of the boat when looking from stern to bow.

Shell: Another word for the rowing boat.
Double: A shell for two rowers, each holding two oars.
Four:A shell for 4 rowers, each holding a single oar.
Eight:A shell for 8 rowers, each holding a single oar.
Scull: A boat in which each rower has two oars.
Single:A scull for one rower
Sweep:A boat in which each rower has one oar.
Pair: A sweep with two rowers, each having one oar.
Quad: A shell for 4 rowers, each holding two oars each.

Fin:A triangular piece that attaches to the bottom of the boat that helps keep the boat on course.
Foot Stretcher: The device you strap your feet into inside the shell.
Gunwale: (pronounced "gunnel") The top edge of the side of the boat.
Oar Lock: The device that lets the oar pivot on the rigger.
Rigger: The metal extensions protruding from the sides of the boat.
Rudder: A squarish piece of material attached to the bottom of the boat just behind the fin.
Slide: The sliding seat in the boat.

Rowers

Bow: The rower nearest the bow of the boat, when the boat is coxless, the bowman steers the boat and issues commands.
Stroke: The rower nearest the stern of the boat. The stroke is responsible for setting the pace of the boat.
Coxswain: Also listed as "cox", The person who steers the boat. The coxswain eithers sits in the stern or lies in the bow giving commands to the rowers.
1, 2, 3, etc.: It is common to refer to rowers by numbers. The convention is to number from bow to stern with Bow being No.1 and Stroke being No. 8.

The Stroke

Catch: The beginning of the stroke where the oar is inserted into the water.
Drive: The propelling part of the stroke.
Finish: Where the oar is taken out of the water.
Recovery: The slide forward before the catch.
Feathering: Turning the oar blade horizontally.
Squaring: Turning the oar blade vertically.

Rowing Commands

Arms only: Term used by coxswain instructing rowers to use only arms in rowing.
Back down: (or Back) Row backwards.
Check it: Same as "Hold or Hold Water".
Hold or Hold Water: Square the oar in the water (to stop the boat fast).
Paddle: Row easy, no pwer on the stroke.
Half Power: Next step up from "paddle." Next step is 3/4 power then Full power.
Power: Take strokes at full power.
Ready all-row: The command to start rowing. Should be preceded by From the Finish or From the Catch.
Way enough: Finish the stroke in progress and stop rowing.

Other Rowing Terms

Catch a crab: When the blade gets stuck in the water during the stroke. This can sometimes stop the boat and throw the rower into the water.
Skying: When the blade is to high off the water just before the catch.
Digging: When the blade is to deep in the water during the stroke.
Washing-out: When the blade starts to come out of the water during the stroke.

Erg: Short for Ergometer. A land based rowing machine used for training that simulates the rowers action in the boat and measures various items such as power, length, frequency, distance and time.
Head Race: Fall races, typically rowing upriver over a winding corse covering several miles. Times for the races are based on start finish times, not head-to-head racing.
Rating: The number of strokes taken per minute.
Regatta: A rowing race, sometimes called Sprint Races. Usually races covering 2,000 meters in the spring season. As many as six or seven boats may line up and race one another over a straight course to the finish line.