The following is a summary of rowing and paddlesports, focusing on the equipment, what makes the sport unique, conditions for racing and practice, storage needs and dock preferences. These are the notes used in the presentation at the Portland Boathouse on Wednesday, October 2, 2013.

Rowing

Sport Basics - Uses oars attached to fulcrum (oarlock) to propel boat. Athletes sit on sliding seats, feet locked in place with shoes or clogs. Some boat classes have coxswain to steer and command the team. Boat travels opposite direction that athlete is facing. - Rowers either “Sweep” (one oar, 4 meters long) or scull (2 oars, 3 meters long). Sweep boats come in 2, 4 or 8-person boats. Sculls are single, double or 4 person. Boats are very narrow and tippy…singles are less than 12” in width, 8-person are less than 24” wide, at waterline. A single shell is 27’; an 8-person is 60’ in length. Boats are subject to minimum weight rules. - Rowing is an Olympic sport for men and women. Athletes also compete in different classes such as; youth, collegiate, and masters. The oldest collegiate sports rivalry in ANY sport is the Harvard-Yale rowing race.

(Elite Women Scullers, Head of the Charles Race, Boston, Mass. Photo: Laura Jackson)

Water/Facility Requirements

- Spring/summer season races are typically 2000 meters linear races on a buoyed race course. Fall races are 3-4 miles time-trial style (aka Head Race) on rivers or lakes. Training waters are typically a minimum of 2k in one direction. Flat water is a necessity...boats have a low freeboard and wakes can swamp or flip them easily. Ocean race boats exist and are popular in Puget Sound, San Francisco East coast and Europe. - Training is generally year-round in areas with minimal snow/ice issues. Immersion clothing not worn, typically tech-fabric, body hugging attire. No PFDs. Practices are generally either solo/small uncoached groups of small boats, or larger groups with motorized coaching launch. Youth rules typically require coached practices or other type of adult supervision. - Low level docks (oarlocks, oars and riggers) or beach launch. Beach launches are disfavored as sand can damage oar/oarlock and seat slider equipment, sand/gravel can damage exterior of hull. - Singles and doubles can be cartopped on some cars. Most clubs/teams have custom trailers. Daily practices are from boathouses or, at a minimum, covered and secure enclosures, as constant trailering can damage equipment. - In the US, rowing races, rules, and coaching education is managed by USRowing (www.USRowing.org)

Sprint Canoe/Kayak Sport Basics - Uses paddles where athlete serves as the fulcrum to propel boat. Kayak athletes sit on fixed seats with feet braced. Canoeists use a “high kneel” position. Boat travels same direction that athlete is facing. Canoeists use a single blade paddle about 5’ long. Kayakers use a double blade paddle about 6.5’ long. Boats are designed for one, 2 and 4 athletes. Boats are very narrow and tippy. A single canoe/kayak is about 17’, 4 person is about 32’. Boats are subject to minimum weight and maximum length rules. - Olympic sport for men and women; collegiate, youth and masters. Greater popularity in Europe, Australia, New Zealand than in US. - Similar boats used for marathon discipline. Boats are slightly lighter. Races are over 10k in length and have mandatory portages. Water/Facility Requirements - Races are typically 200, 500, or 1000 meters on a buoyed race course. Distance races are 2,500-10,000 meters circling a buoyed course. Training waters are typically a minimum of 1k in one direction. Flat water is a necessity as boats are low freeboard and wakes can swamp or flip them. - Year-round sport in areas with minimal snow/ice issues. No immersion clothing; body hugging tech fabric. PFDs with beginners or cold water. - Low level docks (weight transfer from high dock is difficult – see photo) or beach launch. Beaches are discouraged as they can damage hulls and rudders. Beach must be long enough to “parallel park” boats to protect hulls.

- Practices are often with motorboat escort - Singles and doubles can be cartopped on some vehicles. Most clubs own trailers. Daily practices are from fixed facilities (boathouses or covered and secure enclosures). - In the US, sprint canoe/kayak is governed by US Canoe and Kayak (www.teamusa.org/USA-canoe-kayak)

Challenge of launching sprint canoes (left) and kayaks (right) from a high dock (Photo: R. Trismen)

Outrigger Canoe/Surfski Sport Basics - Uses double (surfski) or single (outrigger) blade paddles where athlete serves as the fulcrum to propel boat. Outrigger canoes have a balancing outrigger (the ama) fastened to the hull with two arms (iaku); surfskis are a single hull. Surfski, 1- and 2-person outriggers are sit-on-top with fixed seat and braced feet, and toe-operated rudders. 6-person outriggers have bench seats and no foot braces, the rear paddler steers with his/her paddle. Boats are relatively narrow and tippy (some surfskis are close to sprint kayaks). Singles are about 20’; 6-person are about 40’ in length. Boats are typically fiberglass or composites. Weights can range from 25 lbs for a carbon composite racing surfski to 300 lbs. (minimum weight rule) for a 6-person outrigger. - Surfski racing has a huge international following in Australia/New Zealand, Hawaii, other Pacific Island countries and South Africa. Hawaii has a large youth surfski racing league. Outrigger racing is also popular in those areas. - 6 person outriggers can be lashed together to form a double-hull for racing

Youth sprint paddler (yellow boat) and adult surfski paddler (white boat) (photo: Laura Jackson)

Water/Facility Requirements - Surfski and outrigger races range from 10k or longer on loop courses to “downwind runs” of 20 or more miles. Sprint races are also held on laned courses similar to rowing course. These races are typically rudderless and require a 180-degree turn. Training waters are typically open areas with long, uninterrupted distances. While boats are designed to handle open ocean conditions, paddler skills vary widely. - Year-round in areas with minimal snow/ice issues. Immersion clothing (wetsuit pants, drytop, etc) may be worn. PFD use is uncommon. - Low level docks are preferred; high dock presents challenge to the outrigger/ama and getting into a 1- or 2 person boat. Beach launches are okay. - Practices are often with motorboat escort - Singles and doubles may be cartopped on some vehicles. 6-person boats require trailering. Singles and doubles are often kept in boathouses or other facilities as are sprint kayaks and rowing shells. 6-person boats are often kept in-water due to their weight and need to be rigged every time they are transported. - In the US, outrigger and surfski are governed by USA Canoe Kayak (www.teamusa.org/USA-canoe-kayak). As they are not Olympic sports, governance is less rigorous than for sprint or whitewater.

Whitewater Canoe/Kayak Sport Basics - Uses paddles where athlete serves as the fulcrum to propel boat. Kayak athletes sit on fixed seats with feet braced. Canoeists kneel. Boat travels same direction that athlete is facing. Canoeists use a single blade paddle, while kayakers use a double blade paddle. Boats are for one or 2 people. Boats are wide in the middle and narrow at ends. Generally they are designed to be maneuverable and “eskimo rolled.” - Olympic sport for men and women; open, youth and masters. Greater popularity in Europe, Australia, New Zealand than in US.

Water/Facility Requirements - Competitions are held on gated moving water, either rivers or on manmade courses. Other contests are “freestyle” and are more based on performing tricks and maneuvers, rather than traversing a set course for speed. Training waters are similar to competition waters. - Year-round in areas with minimal snow/ice issues. Immersion clothing, helmets and PFDs are worn. - Beach launch are the norm. - Practices are rarely motorboat escort, although rescue/safety personnel may be stationed along the course. - Singles and doubles can be cartopped on some vehicles. Daily practices are from cartops. Some manmade courses have boathouses or other storage facilities. - In the US, whitewater paddling is governed by US Canoe and Kayak (www.teamusa.org/USA-canoe-kayak).

Sea Kayak/Rec Kayak Sport Basics - Uses double bladed paddles where athlete serves as the fulcrum to propel boat. Kayak athletes sit on fixed seats with feet braced. Boats range from very wide and stable to relatively narrow (20” at waterline). Singles range from about 12’ to 21’; doubles to 26’. Sea kayaks can be made of “skin on frame,” fiberglass or composites, rotomolded plastic, and other technologies. Weights can range from 25 lbs for a carbon composite boat to 75 lbs. + for a plastic single sea kayak. - Sea kayaking is generally recreational. Puget Sound and New England have organized race series.

A variety of recreational kayaks Photo: Laura Jackson

Water Requirements - Minimal requirements. Water conditions based on athletes skill and personal preferences. Training waters are typically open areas with long, uninterrupted distances. While boats are designed for rough water, paddler skills vary widely. - Year-round in areas with minimal snow/ice issues. Often wear immersion clothing. PFDs often worn. Low level docks are preferred, but skilled paddlers can use a high dock, or beach launch. - Practices are typically without motorboat escort. Boats can be cartopped, and some individuals own small trailers. Few organized sea kayak clubs with boathouses or other facilities. Shops/liveries may operate from a fixed boathouse or other on-water structure. - In the US, recreational paddling is generally overseen by the American Canoe Association (ACA) (www.americancanoe.org). Some aspects of canoe racing are also sanctioned by the US Canoe Association (USCA) (www.uscanoe.com). Paddler and coach training is also provided in by the British Canoe Union (www.bcuna.com).

Stand Up Paddle/Paddleboard

Sport Basics - Uses single bladed paddles or athletes hands to propel boat. SUP boards resemble surfboards; paddleboards resemble surfboards or surfskis. SUPs do not have rudders, paddleboards sometimes do. Boards accommodate a single paddler who either stands (SUP), kneels or is prone. Boards range from very wide and stable to narrow and tippy and range from 8’ (for surf conditions) to 14’ or longer (flatwater or downwind racing). Paddleboarding is popular in warmer climates. SUP is becoming popular world-wide. Water Requirements - Races vary from 1 or 2 miles in flatwater conditions to 10k or longer on loop courses to “downwind runs” of 20 or more miles. Training waters are typically open areas with long, uninterrupted distances. While boats are designed handle open ocean conditions, paddler skills vary widely. - Year-round in areas with minimal snow/ice issues. Immersion clothing (wetsuit pants, drytop, etc) may be worn. Many SUP paddlers use CO2 belt pack PFDs. Use of traditional PFDs is uncommon. -Beach launches are typical (some races begin with a run from the staging area to boards) Low level docks are preferred over high docks. - Practices are typically without motorboat escort - Boards may be cartopped on most vehicles. Other than shop/rental facilities, few paddleboard boathouses exist. Most daily practices are from cartop or private property storage (waterfront homes, floating homes, etc). - SUP is somewhat governed by USA Canoe Kayak (www.teamusa.org/USA -canoe-kayak) for racing, and American Canoe Association (www.americancanoe.org) for education and training.

Dragon Boat Sport Basics There are many ancient legends that surround the origin of the sport. What is known is that competitive races originated between villages in China over 2000 years ago. Modern-day dragon boat racing began in 1976, in Hong Kong. In these events, dragon boats are generally rigged with decorative Chinese dragonheads and tails, and a “caller” at the front of the boat beats a drum to keep the paddlers in time. At other times the decorative regalia is removed, although the drum often remains aboard for training purposes.

Paddlers sit facing the front of the boat and propel the boat forward. There are typically 10 benches in a boat, with two paddlers per bench. After paddling on one side for a period of time, each paddler switches sides with their “bench mate”, and then paddles on the opposite side of the boat for a similar period of time. During a race, the caller (drummer) sits at the head of the boat and may issue commands to the crew through a combination of drum beats and voice calls, and also generally exhorts the crew to perform at their peak. During practices, the coach sits at the head of the boat, demonstrating the proper technique through example and critique. A steersperson controls the dragon boat with an oar rigged at the rear of the boat. It is the steersperson’s job to keep the boat on course.

Water/Facility Requirements

- Training occurs year round in many locales. Racing runs from March to October. Long, open areas of uninterrupted distances needed for training. Flatwater is preferred.

- Boats are long and heavy, so are typically are stored on the water and boarded from dock. Clubs own their own boats or share them with other clubs. Paddles and PFD's typically are owned by each crew member but a boathouse is needed for storage of extra paddles and PFD's.

- Dragon boating in the US is governed by USA Canoe and Kayak (www.teamusa.org/USA-canoe-kayak).