Talk:Boat positions

It is the stroke's responsibility to establish a consistent rate and rhythm I don't think that's quite accurate, and is actually a common misunderstanding especially among inexperienced crews. I would counter that the stroke is a frame of reference for the style and rhythm of the stroke for the rest of the boat, but it is every rower's responsibility to establish and maintain a consistent rate and rhythm. I fear novice rowers reading this page and getting a false sense that "the stroke will take care of the rhythm so I don't need to focus on that".

Similarly the description of the rower behind stroke - They closely follow the rhythm set by the strokeman which helps transmit this rhythm to the rest of the boat - creates the impression that the rhythm is dictated and controlled by the stroke seat, but the reality is that the rhythm is its own thing independent of any particular rower. You can ask any experienced sweep rower and he/she will likely agree that you don't pay attention to stroke seat every single stroke to follow the rhythm. You just feel the rhythm yourself and occasionally listen or look towards the stern to verify you're still in time (ie, a frame of reference).

Freshness2go 21:26, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

Prevalence of fours with tandem rig
Surely it's fairly common to rig a four with a tandem pair in the middle? See this [World Cup Race] for example: 4 of the 6 crews are tandem rigged. Also 3 of [the 2007 world champs M4- final], 4 of [last year's final]. TrulyBlue 21:11, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

"Bucket Rigging?"
In the U.S. a tandem rig is commonly referred to as "bucket rigging." Is this the case in other (English speaking) countries? Additionally, this article could use a lot of references. It likely will get tagged sooner or later due to their absence. Some diagrams of the explained rigging would be helpful as well to the uninitiated. Finally, there is such a thing as a double-bucket (double tandem) in an 8+, though it rarely happens. The arrangement calls for S/7 on port, 6/5, on starboard, then alternating the bow 4.Leviance —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.59.130.119 (talk) 03:33, 9 October 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm a UK rower and have never heard of "Bucket Rig" - it's always tandem here, AFAIK. I've also heard "German rig" and "Italian Rig" for eights.  I think the former is with a single tandem at 4 and 5, and Italian has tandems at 2/3, 4/5 and 6/7.  Or it it the other way around?  Not sure they're common enough for more mention: there's already reference to other rigs being possible.  Are you sure that boats are ever rigged with tandems at the end?  I've never seen it, and I'd have thought it would stress the boat.  Agree on referencing and diagrams, but can't think of a source offhand.  TrulyBlue 12:48, 9 October 2007 (UTC)


 * BTW I have also heard "frig rig" or "frigged", which I take to mean rigged with one or more tandems, though some use it to mean just a mirror image. I would use "bow rigged" to describe a mirror image boat (stroke on bowside/port with others alternating). TrulyBlue 10:27, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Backward numbering
I recently went to Rome, and blades were numbered the reverse to what is common in Britain - i.e. stroke = 1, bow = 2,4 or 8. Is this used elsewhere? should we include it in the article? --Ozhiker (talk) 22:54, 25 July 2010 (UTC)

It's common in continental Europe - per the first paragraph, 3rd sentence. TrulyBlue (talk) 16:32, 29 July 2012 (UTC)

Numbering direction seems to differ from country to country in continental europe.

Germany numbers from bow to stern - see Italy numbers from stern to bow - see original comment by Ozhiker Konrd (talk) 20:35, 11 August 2020 (UTC)