What is the sport of rowing?
The term “boat” refers to a team. Though E. O. Smith has novice boats of eight and Varsity boats of four, it can be eight, four, two, or even a single rower. In addition, most boats have a coxswain (pronounced “cox-n”), the on-board coach who steers the boat (being the only one in the boat who faces forward), and communicates to the rowers through an on-board PA system (the “cox box”) to call out directions and set the pace of the rowers. Boats are classified by the number of rowers. With the “cox,” an “eight” will actually have nine members on the team. The vessel they sit in is a “shell,” a lightweight, streamlined boat with sliding seats and oarlocks extending over the side. It’s a craft built for speed. Rowers will either control a single oar (sweep rowing) or two oars (sculling), and the class of boat depends on the number of rowers and the way they’re handling the oars. Boys and girls row separately in competition. E. O. Smith has traditionally rowed Varsity Fours for both men an
