ROWING, the propulsion of a boat by oars. Fresh water rowing is, of course, carried on primarily by individuals as a means for exercise or as a form of pleasure. Rowing, however, has also developed extensively as a sport, with competitive races between highly trained crews, mostly of amateurs. These crews consist most frequently of eight men, although crews of four and of two are also used. Professional rowing is prac tically exclusively single sculling. The styles of rowing, as well as the styles of boats used differ with place and time, and each particular style has its adher ents. Racing boats are light, long, and narrow. In England the eight-men crew is seated in such a manner that each man sits as far away from his rowlock as possible, resulting in an arrangement which leaves four men on each side. In America, however, all eight men sit in a straight line down the center of the boat. The steering in an eight-crew boat is done by a coxswain, sitting in the stern and guiding the boat by means of tiller ropes, attached to the rudder. In a four-crew boat the steering, however, is usually done by the first rower from the stern by means of a board to which the rudder lines are attached and which is worked with his feet. No rudder is used in a two-crew boat.
The actual propulsion of the boat is accomplished by whatever the oar does while in the water. Rowing boats, of course, have undergone considerable de velopment and modern boats are pro vided with every possible means of in creasing the speed and of lessening the strain on the rower. The most impor tant developments are the addition of light iron brackets (outriggers) which have been universally adapted and which increase the power of the stroke. Mod ern rowing styles are based practically exclusively on the requirements of keel less boats, the first of which was built in 1856, in England. In 1870 the slid
ing seat was introduced by Yale and after it was improved in various ways, it has been adopted both in England and in America. In England fixed rowlocks are used, whereas in America they work on a swivel. The most frequently used wood for boats is cedar. American oars are lighter and wider than English oars.
The most important American rowing competitions are the following: varsity races of eight-crew boats between Yale and Harvard, instituted in 1852 and in recent years held at New London, Conn. In 1920 this race was won by Harvard. The inter-collegiate regatta is rowed at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., on the Hudson, since 1901. The American Association of Amateur Oarsmen, founded in 1871, holds annual championship regattas for all kinds of crews. The American Hen ley regatta is held on the Schuylkill river, Philadelphia, and so is the annual People's regatta. The Middle States an nual regatta is held on the Harlem river, New York City. Famous foreign regat tas are the English Henley on the Thames, the Oxford-Cambridge regatta, and the Royal Canadian Henley. The most famous international rowing con test is the regatta held in connection with the Olympic games. In 1920 this was held on the Grand Canal course near Brussels. United States oarsmen were entered in four out of five events, winning three and finishing second in one. American crews also frequently 'participate in the English Henley, and specially arranged races have been held between American and English college crews.
Rowing is a major sport in most of the larger American universities. There are also many rowing clubs of different types throughout the country.