Nothing starts your team off on the wrong side of a referee faster than not being able to maneuver a boat in the starting area. To keep relations between officials and crews on a positive level, it helps if crews and coxswains come to the start line with prior experience on:

1)      how to back their boat to a starting platform/stake boat and;

2)      how to scull the bow around into the wind to maintain their point.

Coaches should make sure ALL crew members (not just those who normally sit in the bow half of the boat) know how to do these maneuvers prior to attending any race event.

Item 1 - Backing a Boat to a Starting Platform/Stake Boat

Coaches, please take a few minutes with each of your crews and have them back their boat into your hands while you are sitting in your coaching launch and/or on your dock. To make this drill more realistic, try doing it on a day when there is a light wind.

On race day (for side entry race courses):

1)      Boats should enter the starting area in lane number order, with the far lane entering first.

2)      Boats should enter on the race course side of the stake boats. Don't go behind the stake boats.

3)      Boats should remain within about a boat length of the stake boats while crossing to their lane.

4)      Wind direction will determine when boats should stop and spin and from what direction boats should back into their stake boat. If there is a head or cross wind on the course, you want to use the wind to help push you into your stake boat.

Here is a helpful article: http://row2k.com/columns/index.cfm?action=read&ID=242 

Item 2 - Sculling the Boat’s Bow Around into the Wind / Keeping Your Point

First a big don’t: never use all oars on one side to scull the bow around. That is the quickest way to roll a boat over.

Coaches, if there is a head or cross wind on the course, you need to instruct your crews that as soon as they are locked on the stake boat they need to keep their point. They need to keep their bow pointed into the wind until just before the start of their race. This is best accomplished by sculling the bow around which moves the boat sideways instead of pulling it forward as a normal stroke would do.

1)      Pass one oar (in an eight, you can use 2 oars on the same side) to the rower in front of you: bow to 2 seat or 2 seat to 3 seat.

2)      With the arm fully extended over the side of the boat, take short strokes next to the hull (see attached photos).

3)   In the 2 pictures attached to this email, notice the hands stay in front of the body just like in normal rowing.

Here is another helpful article: http://row2k.com/columns/index.cfm?action=read&ID=255

Part II will address marshalling and approaching the starting line in more detail.

Thanks and good luck this season.