History

Toledo Rowing Club

It’s not generally known that in the late 1800’s competitive rowing was a very popular inter-city sport and that Toledo had at least four rowing clubs participating in active competition. In fact Toledo was host to Northwestern Amateur Boating Association Regattas in 1869, 1873, and 1874. Something took its toll on rowing until late in the 1900’s when the Toledo Rowing Club as we know it today was founded. In 1982 a group of men, Donald F. Melhorn, Jr., Philip LeBoutillier, Jr., and Jerry Brown, Sr., became the Founding Trustees. They had rowed in their high school and college days – outside of Toledo and decided to resurrect the sport of rowing, not just for themselves but for the people in the greater Toledo community. The Maumee River was perfectly suited as a venue and the rowing club was born. The mission of Toledo Rowing Club could not have been more elementary: “Promote the sport of rowing” and that remains the mission to this day. On 1 April 1996, Toledo Rowing Club incorporated again, this time as a 501(c)3 organization with the same mission as previously. With this incorporation Toledo Rowing Club’s mission put it within the meaning of Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 which permits tax deductible gifts to support rowing.

By the turn of the 21^st century the club had grown to a membership of 250; most of it high school students. However, by virtue of the implementation of SumPro (Toledo Rowing Club’s Learn-To-Row program) the adult membership grew as well. SumPro came to be because the few adult members noted the graying of their group and realized that to insure the club’s viability and longevity it was essential to get more adults involved in the sport and in the club. The beauty of the sport is that any one aged twelve (and possibly younger) to eighty or even ninety or more can take part: males and females, students and business people, physically challenged, novice, and highly skilled. You do not have to know how to row to become a member of Toledo Rowing Club. That’s what SumPro is for; to teach the basics so that you can enjoy rowing.

Rowing is a lifetime sport! It exercises all the major muscle groups of the body. It provides both aerobic and anaerobic conditioning. Rowers can row for the pure joy of it, alone (in a single), with one other (in a double or a pair), with three others (in a quad or a four), or with seven others (in an eight) depending on the size boat in which they choose to row. Doubles and Quads do not have a steersman – called a coxswain; Fours and Eights do. Many get caught up in the magic of the sport and choose to row in competition.

Toledo Rowing Club has had many serious competitors two of whom have brought home medals from world championships. In the mid-seventies the late “Pete” Bentley, a stalwart of Toledo Rowing Club, teamed with former Toledoan Fernando Alvarez de Toledo to race in a double in a world championship; they placed second. Since that race “Pete” competed in several world championships, in singles, doubles, and eights, bringing home gold and silver medals. Jim “Lord of Rowing” Reisig, affectionately known as “Roller Grump” has won two gold medals in international racing in a category known as “Adaptive Rowing” designed specifically for the physically challenged. (He was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident and uses a wheel chair to get around). His first gold medal was in Sydney, Australia, in 1988; his second, Amsterdam, Holland in 1991. He now serves as boatman (repair guy) for TRC.

A Brief History of High School Rowing

After the “founding fathers” formed Toledo Rowing Club in the early 80’s, the first school to put a crew on the river was the University of Toledo. Unfortunately, it was a club sport with only modest support from the University and the students were unable to keep it going. Four others that have come and gone are Maumee High School, coached by Steve Kwiatkowski (Titan ’93), Ottawa Hills High School coached by Kris Lucius (Titan ’95), Perrysburg H.S. coached by Dude Stizenstock (Titan ’89) and Bowling Green State University.

In the fall of 1986, a group of parents from St. John’s High School decided that the school should have a rowing program. They purchased two Donaronico rowing shells, found Steve Mittermaier to coach the boys and got the program off and rowing. The initial roster had over fifty young men. Two years later David Russell was brought on board to coach the team, which he did for two years. He resigned in the spring of 1990. The board hired a young man from Ann Arbor who had been the coxswain for the United States Women’s National team to coach the Titans. One week after he started in Toledo he was offered a coaching position at the University of Michigan, and took it.

That left the Titans without a coach for the fall of 1990. One of the crew dads had some rowing experience in college and offered to help, thinking it would only be until the board found a full time coach. Rod McElroy (known by all as “Coach”), who rowed on the Lightweight crew at Harvard in the mid-50’s, stepped forward to help the four-year old program. During his 20-year tour as head coach he has been very ably assisted by Shane O’Neill (’91), Jamey Monagan (’91 - who served as an Ignatius volunteer and teacher at SJ), Jim Hausch (‘89), Neil McElroy (’93), Andy Robie (’96), Ben Holt (’03), Nick Moriarty (’05), Don Wyper (’01), Mike Stoll (’02), Nate Syrek (’02), and Steve Barchick (’05). In the fall of 2007 Mike Stoll and Nate Syrek, both graduates of Miami of Ohio, joined the coaching staff a couple of days a week to help out. In addition Nick Moriarty and Steve Barchick worked with Coach until they returned to the University of Detroit and Harvard respectively. Steve Frushour, Art Teacher at SJJ, assisted one day a week in 2009 and 2010. Coach McElroy stepped down at the end of the 2010 spring season after 20 years at the helm. At that point Steve Barchick and Mike Stoll took over the coaching duties; Steve, until he left for Marine Corps OCS on 1 Oct 10; Mike continued through the end of the fall 2010 season.

St. Ursula Academy’s program started in spring of 1991 because a few of the students there enjoyed the company of the St. John’s lads and felt that they would enjoy the sport of rowing. A St. John’s Titan, Shane O’Neill (Titan ’91), was the first coach. Since then SUA’s coaches have been: Matt Duty (SJJ ’89), Krista Richter (who later married Shane O’Neill), Loretta Skeddle, Mark Heller, Marnie Stahl (SUA ’93 who coached at the University of Notre Dame and is now at the University of Michigan), Erin Berry-Heller and Betsy Thornton (SUA graduates), and currently Neil McElroy (Titan ’93). Neil has been assisted by Matt Murawski (Titan ’03) and John Bureau (Titan ’05), Pete Fox (Titan ’96), Dana (Winfield) Syrek (NDA ‘02), Alex Thornton (’07), Lauren Sheehan (’08), Anisa Bereksi (’08), and most recently (fall 2009 and spring 2010) Cynthia Marley (Southview ‘04) and Anna Muller (NDA’05).

Notre Dame Academy was the next to join the ranks of high school rowing in Toledo when two Titans, Brian Crocker (SJJ ’98) and Casey Rehm (SJJ ’98), served as the first two coaches. Since then Notre Dame has been coached by Pete Fox (Titan ’96) assisted by Mark Nathe (Titan ’98), Jen Kneip (SUA ’97), Meg Monagan (SUA ’93), Maria Muller (SUA ‘98), Sam Basting (‘01), Kelly Irish, and Trevor Jones (who rowed for Dublin as a high schooler). Kelly and Trevor took over in 2003 and they were ably assisted by Pete Langenderfer (CCHS ’03) who joined them in 2006. They were replaced by Gwen Martzke in the fall of 2009. Pete Fox (Titan ’96) took over as head coach in the spring of 2010. In the fall of 2010 Pete Langenderfer assumed the head coaching duties.

Central Catholic High School started out in 1997 under the tutelage of Chris Abele (Titan ’96). In the spring of 1999 Chris Ostrowski (Titan ’89) became the head coach and was assisted by Mike Skeddle (Titan ‘88). Skeddle replaced Ostrowski in the spring of 2000 and stayed as head coach until the spring of 2003 at which point Sunit Patel (former India national rower) took over with Julia Dillon as his assistant. Julia took over as head coach in the fall of 2003 with Pete Langenderfer and Andy Godsey – both CCHS graduates - serving as her assistants. Pete took over as head coach in the spring of 2004 and in the spring of 2005 brought Chris Weber (St. Francis ’03) on board to assist. Pete resigned at the end of the spring 2006 season and Claire Frushour (NDA ’02) took over as head coach. Claire was assisted by Yohann Rigogne, a member of the French National team. He took over in the spring of 2007 as head coach. He was ably assisted by Phil Levering (SFS ’06) for a couple of seasons. Yohann left in the winter of 2010 and was replaced by Earle McGaffey (’00) and Kevin Galumbus both CCHS grads.

Anthony Wayne High School started a team in the fall of 1998 under the coaching of Aaron Zdawczyk (Titan ’93). He had not rowed at SJJ, but did row at the College of the Holy Cross serving as Captain in both his freshman and senior years. He returned to Toledo and helped to get AW crew underway, leaving after a year to further his academic career and is now the head coach at Northwestern University. Ryan Barone (Titan ’93) took over from Aaron and was followed by David Cusano (who hailed from the Buffalo area and worked at SSOE). Anthony Wayne is the only public high school to have its own team at TRC and is a self-supporting entity, meaning that the team does not receive any financial support from the school. Anthony Wayne is currently up to 24 members and was coached by Jen Kneip (SUA ’97) until the end of the spring 2006 season at which time Annie Petlow (SUA ’98) took over. She handled the coaching duties for a season at which time Marybeth Hoffman (CCHS) and Matt Thompson (Miami of Ohio) headed up the coaching duties. Jill Hoffman (Marybeth’s sister) later joined the coaching staff. In the fall of 2009 Shannon Berry-Heller and her dad Mark Heller took over as coaches

Toledo Metropolitan Rowing Club was started in the spring of 2000 by Chris Rumpf, (CCHS ’00) a rower from Central Catholic High School who saw an opportunity to give rowers from schools without their own rowing programs a chance to learn how to row. After that first spring several of the rowers stayed with rowing over the summer under the coaching eyes of Brian Lauvray (Titan ’99) and Aaron Lachant (Titan ’01). That fall Sara Kosmatek (NDA ’00) and Christine Latta (SUA ’01) took over the coaching duties. Sara Kosmatek stayed with it and was joined by Mark Heller in the fall of 2003. Mark’s work schedule prevented him from continuing after the spring of 2004. Sara resigned to dedicate more time to her education and Joey Tita (Titan ’01) took over. During TMRC’s first season there were 11 schools represented: Maumee, Perrysburg, Springfield, Northview, Southview, St. Francis, Waite, Maumee Valley Country Day, Bowsher, Libbey, and Rossford. The high school representation has varied considerably over the seasons since that time. Theirs is a really difficult recruiting job. Joe Tita resigned after one year; his teaching duties at Springfield H.S. had him buried. Ashley Cameron (Perrysburg, ’05) took over for Joe after having been one of the original members of TMRC.

St. Francis de Sales High School rowing club (SFS) came into being in the spring of 2005 as the result of the enthusiasm of a half dozen SFS students who were part of TMRC and wanted to row for their own school. With the considerable help of two of the dads, Mark Stutler and Keith Wilkowski, and the acquiescence of the school administration, the crew put rowers on the water under the guidance of Mary Keiser (from the University of Cincinnati) and Kate Pollex, who rowed for Maumee High School in the mid-nineties when that school had a crew. Mary’s working career interfered with her spending time at the boathouse and starting in the fall of 2005 Kate Pollex took over as head coach. She was assisted by Leslie Ann Watkins. Effective with the fall season 2007, Andy Godsey, Central Catholic High School '03 took over as Head Coach and he was assisted by Trisha Marshall, Central Catholic High School '03. He was replaced by Chris Abele (Titan ’96) in the fall of 2008 assisted by Trevor Jones.

Current Status of TRC

In the fall of 1999 TRC moved from its original location, the downstream most corner of what is now (2010) “The Docks Restaurants”, to a real boathouse in International Park. TRC members and friends contributed a total of $200,000, another $450,000 in kind and sweat equity, and the City of Toledo contributed $350,000.

When the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse was dedicated in October 1999, there were eight groups rowing out of it: Toledo Rowing Club, St. John’s Jesuit High School (nee: St. John’s High School), St. Ursula Academy, Bowling Green State University, Central Catholic High School, Notre Dame Academy, Anthony Wayne High School, and the University of Toledo. Since then, Toledo Metropolitan Rowing Club, founded to give those youngsters who do not go to a school with its own rowing program a place to row, and St. Francis de Sales High School, have started up, while the BGSU club has disbanded.

Rowers practice early in the morning, after school, or in the evening. Most row once a day, and many row every day as long as the Maumee River is accessible; i.e., the docks are in the water and the river is free of ice. The docks are put in the water as soon after the ice leaves the river in the spring and removed in early November after the last of the fall regattas. TRC members – and all the high school students are members of TRC – compete in regattas throughout the Midwest and recently many of the high school clubs have had the opportunity to race in the Head of the Charles Regatta – the grand daddy of them all – usually the next to last weekend of October each year. That regatta, a two-day event, has competitors from all over the world, numbering close to 7000. The 2010 regatta was #46 and drew an estimated 300,000 spectators who line the banks of the Charles River and six of the seven bridges under which the competitors must pass.

On the fourth Saturday of September, the FrogTown Regatta (nee: The Toledo International Rowing Regatta) takes place on the Maumee River. The course is 4800 meters (3 miles) long, the last half mile of which is in full view of the spectators in Promenade and International Parks. Competitors come from all over the Midwest and from Canada. There are events for males and females, young and old, novice, experienced and adaptive, singles, doubles, quads, fours, and eights.

Toledo Rowing Club membership information is available on the web at www.toledorowing.org or by writing to Toledo Rowing Club, Attn: Membership, P.O. Box 2747, Toledo, OH 43606.

Toledo Rowing Foundation

History

In 1984 the Toledo Rowing Foundation was formed as a 501(c)3 corporation “to exclusively foster national and international amateur sports competition and develop amateur athletes for such competitions and to conduct national and international competition in sports within the meaning of Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954”. As a 501(c)3 corporation it is eligible to receive tax deductible contributions. The Foundation was formed because two almost new four-oared racing shells had come on the market. The Founding Trustees were: A.L. “Pete” Bentley, Gerald R. Brown, Sr., Philip LeBoutillier, Jr., and Steven W. Monro. With borrowed money the Foundation purchased the two shells, a small coaching/safety launch, outboard motor, and ten sweep oars.

As part of the 1985 Toledo International Rowing Regatta the Foundation sponsored the first Adaptive race ever held in the Midwest. The competitors rowed catamarans competing on a course that ran across the Maumee River from International Park to what was then COSI. COSI was renamed the Imagination Station in 2009.

Current Status

The Toledo Rowing Foundation continues to encourage the development of rowers. Many of the shells in the boathouse have been purchased by the Foundation. The Foundation and the Club make those shells available to start-up rowing clubs so that they will have equipment to use until such time as they are well enough established and funded to purchase their own equipment.

Tax deductible contributions may be made – and will be enthusiastically accepted by – Treasurer, Toledo Rowing Foundation, P.O. Box 351284, Toledo, OH 43635-1284.

Membership

Learning to Row: SUMPRO

Toledo Rowing Club premier program for learning to row is SUMPRO. Check the club web site at www.toledorowing.org for information about starting dates and times, location, what to wear, and fees.

The summer program for the Toledo Rowing Club, SUMPRO for short, is taught in June and July of each year. It starts the Monday after National Learn to Row Day (NLTRD), which is always the first Saturday in June and is sponsored by the United States Rowing Association. NLTRD provides anyone and everyone the opportunity to experience what rowing is all about. Typically it has four components: tour of the boathouse to point out the equipment and the lingo; learning the rowing stroke on the Indoor Rowing Machine, more commonly known as “the erg”; transferring what was learned on the erg to rowing in an Alden Ocean Shell in the lagoon on the end of a tether (An Alden is a very stable rowing platform; you would have to work to tip it over.); and a ride, with the chance to try a few strokes, in an 8-man shell with 6 experienced rowers and a coxswain – the mouthy little bugger who steers the boat.

The Monday after NLTRD, SUMPRO starts at the boathouse for people from junior high school age to adults. There is a great staff, many of whom are graduates of the high school programs who come back to pass their knowledge and love for the sport on to those who want to learn. The objective is to get everyone to a skill level where each can come to the boathouse and row whenever he or she wants to do so. Anyone under the age of 18 must complete a “float test” which consists of floating in sweat shirt and sweat pants for ten minutes and then putting on a life jacket and fastening it properly while still in the water. The operative word is “float”. The instructors are not interested in whether or not you can swim, but they are very interested in knowing that you CAN float. The primary reason for that has to do with Rule #1 at the boathouse, which is: AT ALL TIMES STAY WITH YOUR BOAT. Boats full of water WILL float; tired rowers typically do not float at all well and for absolute certainty should not try to swim!

SUMPRO has two training sessions. Folks may take part in one or both. One of them teaches “Sweep Rowing”; the other, “Sculling”. In sweep rowing each rower has one oar with both hands on the one oar handle. In sculling each rower has two oars, one in each hand. Both sessions start with learning the basics of the rowing stroke on “the erg”. In the sweep session the participants go next to the training barge known as the “Leviathan,” which is two 8-man shells connected to look like a catamaran. There is a walkway between the two hulls for the instructors and there are eight sliding seats in each hull so that 16 students may learn to row at any given time. Once the instructors are comfortable with the progress of the students, they will put the students into an 8-man shell.

In the sculling session the students take the skills they have gained on the ergs to the Alden Ocean Shells. As mentioned earlier, the Alden is a very stable platform from which to launch a sculling career. The students pair off and while one is actually sculling, the other is tending the tether. Instructors are then in a position to help several pairs of students at a time. The tether allows the students to take three or four strokes without being set adrift to fend for themselves. Here, too, when the instructors feel that a student is ready to “try his wings,” the tether is loosed so that the rower may scull around the lagoon. Eventually, the sculler is given permission to head out into the river. When a sculler feels that he or she is ready to certify, the instructor sets up a certification scenario and the student struts his or her stuff. If successful the student may then go out in an Alden Ocean Shall – and only an Alden Ocean Shell – whenever s/he wishes. If a student wants to “fleet up” to a skinnier and, therefore, faster boat, he or she must attain certification in order to be allowed to row in a boat requiring a higher skill level. The requirements for certification may be found on the TRC web site at www.toledorowing.org. Be sure to check them out so that you will know what you have to do to certify.

SUMPRO is a fun, exciting program which adds converts to the sport of rowing and membership to Toledo Rowing Club.

Affiliated Clubs

Most of the high school age rowers belong to clubs which are affiliated with the high school which they attend. For those students who attend a high school which does not have its own club, Toledo Metropolitan Rowing Club is available. All of these clubs have coaches and equipment of their own. Any start-up club may use TRC equipment until it is on sound financial footing such that it can purchase its own. Appendix A lists the equipment owned by TRC which is available for use provided the equipment utilization fee has been paid.

Fees

Membership in Toledo Rowing Club requires the payment of dues and fees. There is a three-tiered structure: one for students, one for adults, and one for college students who are home for the summer. The funds collected through the dues structure pay for membership in the United States Rowing Association, personal liability insurance, and property insurance on the boathouse and the equipment housed therein.

The boathouse fee is used to pay for the upkeep of the boathouse: lights, phone, natural gas, water, supplies for repair and maintenance of the equipment, salary of the Boathouse Manager, janitorial services, etc.

Lockers are available in the northeast corner of the boathouse near the lavatories and the shower. You must provide your own lock. The staff and management cannot recommend strongly enough that valuables be locked up while you are on the river; stuff does disappear!!!

For adults, dues and fees are payable at the beginning of the spring season, usually delineated by when the docks go in the water. It is imperative that a waiver be submitted with the dues and both fees and waiver must be in the hands of the Treasurer or the Boathouse Manager before the rower goes on the water. It all has to do with the personal liability insurance coverage that TRC has through the United States Rowing Association. For the affiliated clubs fees are payable semi-annually – because the school year does not coincide with calendar year. Fees, waivers, and a complete roster must be turned in to the Boathouse Manager before any member of an affiliated club enters the boathouse to begin either the spring or the fall season. Only when these requirements are met and the roster submitted to the United States Rowing Association are the rowers covered by the provided insurance should an accident occur.

Insurance

Toledo Rowing Club has liability insurance by virtue of its membership in the United States Rowing Association (USRA). TRC shells, oars, launches, motors and the docks are covered by a property insurance policy through a broker who specializes in insuring rowing equipment.

Affiliated clubs can participate in the TRC policy for property insurance if they so choose, but those fees are to be paid with the other fees and dues. If a club does not wish to carry property insurance with TRC, the club must submit a statement to that effect in writing to Treasurer, Toledo Rowing Club. Insurance fees for affiliated clubs are billed on an annual basis. New equipment may be added to the policy (and should be) as soon as the equipment is acquired. (If it is a new boat, for example, it should be added before the boat ships from the manufacturer. In fact, most manufacturers demand this. However, if the boat is not coming from a manufacturer, do yourself a favor; add it to your policy as soon as the sale is complete, even if it has not left the seller’s location.)

The newsletter of the Toledo Rowing Club appears periodically during the year on the web site (www.toledorowing.org) delivering the word about regattas, social events, accomplishments of members, equipment for sale, equipment wanted, wish lists, work needed, etc. It’s an open forum; members are encouraged (begged?) to submit articles for inclusion. No articles = no newsletter; it’s pretty simple! Send articles to newsletter@toledorowing.org

Safety and Procedures

Safety is paramount. Re-emphasizing: SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT!! Safety is the primary concern of the Toledo Rowing Club. Rowing is a water sport. It is inherently dangerous. Use common sense. If there is lightning in your eyes, thunder in your ears, and/or white caps on the water, DON’T GO OUT!

A. Stay with your boat Sooner or later a rower will capsize or be thrown out of a boat. At all times the rower must stay with the boat. That is Rule #1 at the boathouse. Live by it! Rule #2 is: If you are not absolutely certain that you fully understand, go back and review Rule #1. Toledo Rowing Club is not afraid that you will lose the boat. It is concerned with your survival and your best chance for survival is for you to stay with the boat since it will float, even if it is full of water. If there is more than one rower in the water, staying together will assist rescuers in getting to all of the rowers quickly. What is Rule #1 again? AT ALL TIMES STAY WITH YOUR BOAT!

B. Float test Every rower who has not attained the age of 18 must pass a “float test” at the beginning of his or her first season of rowing and annually thereafter. Those 18 and older are not required to pass the “float test” but by virtue of signing the required waiver are indicating that they can swim. Remember, TRC does not want you to swim away from your boat. You certainly can swim alongside of it using it for flotation, if that appears to be the only chance you have for getting somewhere that you can get out of the water. The “float test” consists of entering the water with sweatshirt and sweat pants on, floating for ten minutes with head above water the entire ten minutes, then putting on a life jacket and securing it properly while still in the water.

C. Certification Before any individual is allowed to take TRC equipment out of the boathouse, s/he must be certified to use that particular class of equipment. (See Appendix A for types of boats in each class.) There is a team, headed by a certification coordinator, that is in place to certify new rowers in TRC rowing shells. Check the web site, www.toledorowing.org, under the heading “Certification” for a current list of the members of the certification team. Typically, new rowers first certify in the Alden Ocean Shell. Most soon tire of rowing a bathtub and want to go faster. The next step up is a Recreational Single. Those get progressively skinnier, longer, and faster until rowers who want to row in a racing single have moved through the sequence, certifying each step of the way. These steps are required to prepare the rower for a racing single, a double, or a quad – all sculling boats. The certification process may require more than one meeting with the certifier.

D. Life Jackets If you are rowing in a racing shell, you will discover that there is no place to stow a life jacket. United States Coast Guard regulations exempt racing shells from having to carry life jackets on board. Coach/Safety launches accompanying any size shell must have enough life jackets on board for all rowers and coxswains under the supervision of that launch and for all those in the launch. The Alden Ocean Shell and the Martin Trainer both have stowing capacity for life jackets, and are not exempt from carrying life jackets under Coast Guard regulations. Take one life jacket for each person in the shell.

E. Log Book Every time a boat (scull, shell, launch) is taken out of the boathouse it must be logged out. It is a requirement of the liability insurance coverage that TRC has through the United States Rowing Association. When the boat returns to the boathouse, it must be logged back in. That way there is a continuous record of what boats are on the water, when they are on the water, and which direction (upstream toward the high level bridge or downstream toward the I-280 bridge) they headed. This, in turn provides a history of equipment utilization -- trips out of the boathouse by TRC members, their guests and by members of affiliated clubs. The required entries are: date, name of individual or club, boat(s), direction, time out, time in, and any problems encountered such as navigational hazards, equipment breakage, etc. There is room to comment on distance rowed and the sequential number of that trip out of the boathouse. EVERYONE MUST LOG OUT AND IN REGARDLESS OF WHOSE EQUIPMENT IS IN USE. Another benefit of the Log Book is to document the efforts of those competing for the “Water-Logged Award” presented each year to that member who logs the most mileage on the water. Appendix B is a table listing various distances on the river.

Rules

Safety Is Paramount

1. At All Times Stay With Your Boat

2. If you do not completely understand and can follow to the letter, review and memorize Rule #1.

3. Your signed waiver must be in and your dues/fees paid before you enter the boathouse or go on the water.

4. Do NOT take a boat out if there are white caps on the water, lightning strikes in your eyes, and/or rumbles of thunder in your ears.

5. Watch the United States Rowing Association Safety film, “Ready All. Row!” and the TRC Power Point presentation which is available on the web site at www.toledorowing.org.

6. If you are not yet 18 years of age, you must take a float test before going on the water.

7. Sign out and sign in; use the Log Book.

8. Follow the traffic pattern; row on the river as you drive on the street. Keep to the right. When exiting the lagoon, move to the downstream boundary – the end closer to the MLK Bridge - of the lagoon before heading out onto the river. This will minimize the chances of colliding with a shell traversing the east side of the river close to.

9. When returning from upstream (coming from the High Level Bridge back toward the lagoon) give a wide berth to the seawall in front of The Docks restaurants. It will reduce the probability of fouling fishermen’s lines coming off the seawall anywhere along that side of the river. Pointing your bow as soon as you pass under the High Level Bridge so as to row between the two navigation buoys will help in much the same way.

10. As you enter the river from the lagoon watch for and yield to boats/rowers coming downstream – often at racing speed.

11. The No Wake Zone is between the High Level Bridge upstream and the green navigation buoy about one-third of a mile downstream of the MLK Bridge. Most boaters pay attention to the No Wake Zone restrictions – but not all. Coach/Safety launches have permission from the U.S. Coast Guard, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Toledo Police to create a wake in the No Wake Zone provided that the launch is within hailing distance of shells over which the launch is exercising supervision. However, if there are pleasure boats moored at the Docks Restaurants, launches must move well out into the center of the river to minimize the effect of the launch wake on those craft moored at The Docks Restaurants.

12. Be advised: Outside the No Wake Zone rowers are fair game. Most boaters will slow down for rowers outside the No Wake Zone, but don’t count on it. Beware of power boats with a “bone in their teeth”; that is, going so fast that they are kicking up a huge bow wave and their bow is so high that they may not see you. Even if they are not close to you, their wake may swamp you.

13. On the Maumee River Freighters have the right of way; don’t play chicken with them. See Appendix D for a more thorough explanation of the potential hazards and dangers created by freighter traffic.

14. If you take it out, put it back.

15. If you break it, report it in the Log Book. If it is a boat, leave a note on the boat so no one else will use it until it is fixed. If it is an oar, put it in the Repair Bay.

16. To reserve a specific boat for a specific regatta you must sign up for that boat 30 days before the regatta. If a referee is required to determine who will use the boat, the Boathouse Manager or the TRC Board will make the determination.

17. NO disposable water bottles in the boathouse

18. Do not hang towels on boats to dry.

Boathouse and Dock Etiquette

Even if it is not yours, if it is adrift, put it away, restore it, take care of it. Many people call the boathouse “Home”; help to keep it clean. There are plenty of trash cans for trash, recycle barrels for plastic water bottles; and a “Lucky Bag” for the receipt of articles of clothing, tools, things of value that are often found adrift in the boathouse. (The “Lucky Bag” is a medium blue, heavy plastic, 65 gallon drum with the letters – guess! – “Lucky Bag” stenciled on the side.) Once a trash can is full, everyone is authorized, qualified, and certified to empty it in the dumpster located outside the Launch Bay. In fact, anyone can.

Do NOT hold school calls (training sessions, meetings, or discussions) at the docks when there are boats waiting to go on or come off the water. Adjust foot stretchers with boats in slings or after you are out on the water, NOT at dockside. Tighten rigger and head nuts and clean seat tracks with the boat in slings, NOT at dockside.

When you are ready to go out for a row, take oars first to the grassy area at the top of the ramps, then take the boat to the dock. Upon return from your row carry the boat to the boathouse first, and then come back for the oars. In other words think to minimize the amount of time that a boat is dockside as a courtesy to other rowers both on and off the water.

For rowers of singles and doubles who use a cart to transport the shell to the docks:

a) Do not leave the cart on the dock. Leave it at the top of the ramp on the grass.

b) When you come back in from a row and return to the boathouse with the last cart, check the log book to see if any other single or double is still out. Those rowers still out may need a cart. Therefore you should return the cart to the grassy area at the top of the ramp.

Regattas

The Toledo Rowing Club sponsors one regatta each year on the Maumee River and competes in many more throughout the Midwest. The hometown regatta is FrogTown (nee: the Toledo International Rowing Regatta). First held in 1985, as a head race from Rossford Marina to downtown Toledo, it was sponsored by Phil LeBoutillier’s college roommate, Bill Coors, of (you guessed it) Coors Brewery. Now that the regatta is centered at International Park, adult beverages are not an option. The regatta was a sprint race of 1850 meters for several years, but was not a favorite of rowers because of the dog leg in the course and the lack of buoyed lanes. The club wisely reverted to a head race of three miles. The starting line is close to the Norfolk & Southern Railroad Bridge, downstream from the boathouse; the finish line is close to the High Level Bridge. The regatta is on the last Saturday of September. FrogTown requires lots of volunteers for planning and execution. It is a great way to get involved with your club.

Affiliated Clubs

Several clubs are affiliated with Toledo Rowing Club. As affiliates each has special responsibilities to Toledo Rowing Club. Those responsibilities are as follows:

Get a Toledo Rowing Club mentor, someone to coordinate communications and the entire learning experience of becoming a viable rowing organization affiliated with Toledo Rowing Club. In essence that means that the affiliated club needs to have representation at Toledo Rowing Club meetings and needs to be involved with Toledo Rowing Club activities and events; such as FrogTown Regatta.

Get a school advisor, someone to coordinate communications with the school administration and to provide support, copies, and (potentially) financial support.

Get parental involvement. It is vitally important to get parental involvement to provide consistency and continuity. There have been four clubs that started and then disbanded because there was not the continuity and succession planning essential to the longevity of any organization. Parents with fundraising skills, parents to attend Toledo Rowing Club Board monthly meetings, parents to collect and submit waivers and rosters to Toledo Rowing Club, parents to provide input to the TRC newsletters and help with shell maintenance/repair, boathouse maintenance, and Docks In/Docks Out. Youngsters can’t do it alone.

Get an organization chart to the Toledo Rowing Club President. This chart should include the aforementioned mentor, advisor, and parents, coach (es), and a proposed budget. The budget should show revenues (fundraisers and dues), expenses (dues and fees to Toledo Rowing Club, regatta entry fees, transportation costs, maintenance expenditures, spare parts, etc.) and long range fund-raising plans to support the purchase of equipment. Toledo Rowing Club expects an affiliated club to purchase equipment of its own so that the exclusive use of Toledo Rowing Club equipment can begin a phase out after two years of the new affiliated club’s operation.

Membership – You are a member of your own club and you must also be a member of Toledo Rowing Club. Dues must be paid and waivers and rosters must be in the hands of Toledo Rowing Club before you go on the water. All Toledo Rowing Club rules apply including the viewing of the United States Rowing Association Safety film “Ready All. Row” and the successful completion of the “float test”.

Lingo – Learn it. In competition regatta officials, coaches, and other competitors assume you know the lingo. See Appendix E for rowing terms.

Training – Two weeks on dry land with your Toledo Rowing Club mentor and/or the director of sweep rowing. View the safety film, pass the “float test”, learn the lingo and the equipment, listen to your coach. Follow the rules and above all, use good common sense.

Respect the equipment. It is expensive and you are only borrowing it. Toledo Rowing Club pays for routine repairs, wear items, and maintenance. You pay for damage caused by carelessness (up to the level covered by insurance) and by lack of adherence to the rules and common sense. You should have your own supply of wrenches, commonly used nuts, bolts, screws and spacers. You are also required to have your own gas tank and to pay for the gasoline you use in the coach/safety launch motors. Since there are two-cycle and four-cycle outboard motors, it is essential to know to put a 50 to 1 gasoline to (2-cycle) oil mixture in the two-cycle motors. (Five gallons of gasoline should have 12.8 ounces of 2-cycle oil to insure a 50 to 1 mixture ratio.) Use pure gasoline in the four-cycle motors, occasionally checking the oil dip stick – just as you would in your car – to be sure the oil level is OK. If you have plastic gasoline tanks and plastic gasoline transport containers, use a wood-burning iron to burn in “with oil” or “w/o oil” into the plastic; makes it easier to know that you have grabbed the correct gasoline supply.

Membership in Other Organizations

Toledo Rowing Club is affiliated with the United States Rowing Association (USRA) for purposes of liability insurance coverage for all Toledo Rowing Club members whenever they are on the water and/or involved in regattas. USRA membership also provides for our FrogTown Regatta to have official USRA sanction and to utilize USRA judges and referees. Individuals may also join USRA – go to www.usrowing.com and click on “Membership”.

Toledo Rowing Club members may also affiliate with the Alden Ocean Shell Association on an individual basis in order to compete in AOSA sponsored regattas, to receive information about Alden equipment, new designs, etc., and to receive the AOSA newsletter. Most every major regatta has an event for Alden shells. To join contact Martin Marine Company, Inc. P.O. Box 251, Kittery Point, ME 03905, 800-477-1507.

Appendix A - Toledo Rowing Club Equipment

Shells			Oars
Manufacturer	Seats	Name / Model	Sculling – Macon – 9 wood
Kaschper	8	Ramming Speed	Sweep – Hatchet - 30
Kaschper	8	Vartan Gregorian	Sculling – Macon – 18 composite
Pocock	8	First Boat – Red seats	Sweep – Macon - 19
Vespoli	8	Lord Reisig	Sculling – Hatchet – 16 composite
Pocock	8	First Boat – Blue seats
Schoenbrod	8
Vespoli	8	Fe
Dirigo	4	Clement O. Miniger	Ergs
Vespoli	4	Grace B	Concept II - Model B (2)
Kaschper	Quad	H.L Thompson	Concept II - Model C (7)
Hudson	2		Concept II - Model D (2)
Kaschper	2
Alden 26	Single
FISA	Single	“Paul Momchilov”	Launches
Kaschper	Single	Tiger
Peinert	Single	Blue Deck
Peinert	Single	Red deck
Vespoli	Single	“Dave Lindau”
Vespoli	Single	“Pete Bentley”	Motors
Vespoli	Single	“Phil LeBoutillier”
WinTech	Single	Explorer 26 - 2
Recreational Shells
Alden Ocean Shells (6)	Singles
Alden Ocean Shells (6)	Doubles
Martin Trainer (4)	Singles
OarMasters (14)
Alden Star (2)	Single
FISA	Single	“Trixie”
FISA	Single	“Emma”
Peinert	Single	Red Deck Dolphin
Peinert	Single	Green Deck Dolphin
Maas	Single	“John K Clement”
Julien	Single	“Tiger” -
Skimmer	Single	Catamaran – “Sugar” -
Adaptive Rowing Shells
WinTech	Double	Explorer 30
WinTech	Single	Adaptive

Appendix B-1 - Distances on the Maumee River

Measured along the Eastern Shore (That’s the Boathouse side of the River). There are 1600 meters in a mile and high schools race 1500 meters in the spring.

Leg	Distance (meters)	Cumulative (meters)
Bottom of road that brings people to the Rossford Marina - starting line	0	0
Marina to slab of former little red pump house	252	352
Slab at former Pump House to LOF stacks on range	288	640
Stacks to I-75 bridge	1216	1856
I-75 bridge to sunken barge	708	2564
Sunken Barge to Tan Brick House	400	2964
Tan Brick House to ConRail Bridge	556	3520
ConRail bridge to High Level bridge	928	4448
High Level Bridge to Plimsoll Line of Boyer	200	4648
Plimsoll Line of Boyer to Bend in Seawall at Volleyball	450	5098
Bend at Volleyball courts to ramps at Tango’s	210	5308
Ramps at Tango’s to Gumbos’ Point	150	5458
or
LOF Stacks on a range to Gumbo’s Point	4818	4818
or
Slab of former Red Pump house to Ramps	4956	4956

For preparation and time trials for spring races

Downstream end of seawall at Starboard Side Condominiums (Starting line)	0	0
Condominiums to High Level Bridge	720	720
High Level Bridge to Plimsoll Line on Boyer	200	920
Plimsoll Line on Boyer to Bend in Seawall	450	1370
Bend in Seawall to Ramps at Tango’s	210	1580*

For distances downstream from the lagoon

Gumbo’s Point to MLK Bridge – third arch	320
MLK bridge to end of No Wake zone	560
MLK bridge to old I-280 bridge	1600
Old I-280 bridge to Norfolk and Southern bridge	2320
Norfolk & Southern Bridge to two sheet pile bollards	880
Norfolk & Southern bridge to Toledo Trunk bridge	1168

For the information of all hands, here are the distances (in miles):

Starting line to old I-280 bridge	1.15
Old I-280 to MLk	1.00
MLK to Red Buoy at OC Galactic HQ	0.51
Red Buoy to Finish line	0.34
Total	3.00

The Willis B. Boyer is 600 feet (182 meters) long from bow to rudder post. From the bow of the Boyer to the Finish line IS 780 feet (236 meters)

There are International Orange triangular shapes painted on the east sea wall from the bow of the Boyer to the upstream corner of Navy Bistro. They mark 100 meter intervals on the east wall to indicate the final 500 meters to the ramps at Tango’s.

Updated: 3 Nov 2010

Appendix B-2 – Map of the Maumee River

Appendix C - Assembling the Barge

Inventory parts

· 3 - Under Hull Cross Members (UHCM)

· 6 – Outside Gunwale Mounts (OGM)

· 7 – Gunwale Cross Members (GCM)

· 3 – Under Hull Cross Tubes (UHCT)

· 2 – Pocock 8 hulls

· 6 – boat slings – all the exact same size

· 40 – Regular Length Rigger Bolts usually left on the shells

· 12 – Extra Long Rigger Bolts for mounting OGM’s at Bow, #5, and #8 seats

· 12 – TEK screws for securing the UHCT’s to the UHCM’s

· Assorted wrenches: 11mm and/or 7/16^th

· 1 – 4’ level

· 16 - #12 x 1.25” stainless steel wood screws (TRC will have to supply the bolts or screws to hold the pieces of plywood together.)

· 1 – Portable drill with drill bits and driver bits.

Numbers on the various parts correspond to the seat locations where they are mounted. A and F refer to rigger attachment locations. A = aft (middle two bolts), F = forward (1 bolt).

Assemble the barge on the lagoon dock.

1. Place slings on dock so that three slings support each hull

2. Place hulls in slings

3. Insure that the two inside gunwales are aligned with each other and level

4. Attach 1 OGM to the outboard side of each hull at the #5A position

5. Attach 1 OGM to the outboard side of each hull at the #1A position

6. Attach 1 OGM to the outboard side of each hull at the #8A position

7. Starting at #1F attach GCM to the inboard side of each hull, followed by #2A, #3A, #4A, #6A, #7A, and lastly #9F Note: #1A, #5A, and #8A are left open to accommodate the 3 UHCM’s

8. Install 1 UHCM at position #1A, then 1 UHCM at position #5A, and 1 UHCM at position #8A

9. Tighten all the nuts and bolts, then double check for level gunwales. If they are not, loosen nuts and bolts, move hulls in slings as necessary to gain level, re-tighten nuts and bolts

10. For the coaches’ walkway, lay the pieces of plywood out in order – as numbered. Drill holes in the small plywood plates for the stainless steel #12 x 1.25” woodscrews. Use the plates to secure the longer sheets of plywood together.

11. Gather at least 20 people to lower the barge carefully in to the water. Experienced rowers will then row the barge to the Veterans Skyway Marina where it will be moored in the center of one of the long boat slips with lines running to both docks. We will need a gangway of some sort to get from the bottom of the “U” of the boat slip to the coaches’ walkway and thence to the seats. Each outing will require at least one, and preferably two coxswains.

Appendix D - Freighter and Tugboat Traffic

Occasionally freighters and their accompanying tugs transit the river. Their movement is limited by the deep channel that runs down the center of the Maumee. These large ships will move between the various grain elevators - between the I-75 Bridge and the Conrail railway bridge - either coming from or going to Lake Erie. There are a few spaces to dock north of the Martin Luther King (MLK) Bridge, but they are used infrequently. The dock used by the tugs is 1.5 miles north of the MLK Bridge on the west bank of the river.

Freighters usually transit the river with tugs and the tugs maneuver the ships so they can tie up at the granaries. Tugs can run up and down the river without a freighter. And when they do they typically create a significant wake.

Freighters with tugs cause turbulence that may be unpleasant, and at times dangerous, to rowers. Thrusters on the bow and stern of the freighters push large amounts of water perpendicular to the centerline of the ship. Tugs maneuvering the freighter can create even more turbulence. The turbulence is often indicated by exceptionally smooth surface water.

Rowers on the water with an approaching freighter and its tugboat escort should bear close to the bank of the river, giving the freighter a wide berth. Think about the sign on the back of every semi-trailer: “If you can’t see my rear-view mirrors, I can’t see you.” Paraphrasing that: If a rower cannot see the pilot house of a freighter or a tug, the captain of the tug or the freighter cannot see the rower. Crews rowing near the granaries when a freighter is in close proximity should make every effort to clear those docks by rowing quickly past the docking area or backing. If the water becomes uncomfortably turbulent the rower(s) should assume the ‘safety position’ (oars perpendicular to the shell and blade flat on the water) until the danger passes.

Tugs without a freighter can cause a greater problem because they tend to move a lot faster. The wake created by these deep draft boats can cause a shell to swamp or overturn. This can be more of a problem at dusk and dawn when a shell is least visible on the water. Navigation lights are imperative for crews on the water if there is a chance they will be on the water in low light conditions. And that is mandatory with or without freighter traffic!

Rowers, coxswains and coaches must maintain vigilance for ship and tug traffic at all times. Move over. Allow the bigger craft to pass. Keep close to the river bank. Do not cross the river less than 300 meters in front of approaching ship or tug traffic. Remember: you must be able to see the pilot house in order to be sure that the captain sees you. Do not cross the river too close to the stern of a ship either. Turbulence there can be extreme.

Other Considerations:

Barges and the workboats pushing them have practically no way to see low profile boats; i.e. rowing shells. Be watchful and give them a wide berth. Occasionally barges will routinely run upriver to Rossford Marina and above or just to the I-75 bridge, in the morning. It is often dark when they do so. They will not see a rower in their way!

The turning basin between the I-75 bridge and the Conrail Bridge is just that. Freighters and their tugs maneuver slowly in order to push the freighters into the docks. This will create a great deal of uncertainty for rowers to know on which side of the river the freighter intends to dock. Don't guess; watch, wait, and stay well clear. The turbulence created by a tug can be ferocious and it is usually hidden under the surface!

Please note the close proximity of the shipping channel to the eastern bank of the Maumee River between the High Level Bridge and Conrail; about 20 feet at one point! Rowers should cross over to western side, if possible, to avoid a close encounter.

Freighters and Regattas

Every effort should be made to determine the possibility of freighter traffic prior to the start of the TRC regattas. Regatta organizers will curtail Launching and Starting procedures when ship and/or tug movement may cause potential interference with a race. Referees and monitors on the course shall encourage rowers moving in the same direction as the ship/tug to continue rowing, as they will probably be moving faster than the ship

When rowers and ships are moving toward each other, regatta organizers and safety officials will first determine if there is enough time for the rowers to complete the race before the ship/tug enters the course. Crews may complete the race if they can make the Finish Line safely. If the ship/tug appears without warning at the MLK Bridge, it may be necessary to stop a race in progress. Consolation or a row over may be considered for crews harmed by this action. The safety of the crews is far more important than finishing the race.

Ships first reported at the mouth of the Maumee River will make the MLK Bridge in about 45 minutes. Ships reported at the Norfolk & Western railway bridge will make the MLK Bridge in 22 minutes. Ships departing the granaries heading toward the lake require about 45 minutes to cast off and make the MLK Bridge. The length of time depends to a great extent on the time it takes to open the ConRail Bridge. It can take ship handling crews twenty to forty minutes to tie up an arriving ship and about the same amount of time to maneuver one away from the granary docks.

Appendix E - Glossary

Commands

"(#) Fall in/out"	These commands tell the rower(s) either to stop rowing or to start rowing with everyone else – e.g. “Bow pair fall-out, stern pair fall-in”.
"Back it"	To have the rowers place their blades at the release position, squared, and push the oar handle towards the stern of the boat. This motion causes the shell to move backwards and is often used to turn a boat as in “Back it on Starboard, row Port”.
"Drop"	Used to tell the rowers to place their blades back on the water after the command “let her run”.
"Blades in (side)"	Tells the rowers on one side to pull their blades in, in order to prevent hitting an object or another boat in the water, (or to let another crew pass on a narrow river).
"Count Down" (or "number off")	Tells the crew to call out their seat number, starting at the bow, when ready to row.
"Down on port/starboard"	Means that the boat is leaning to one side or the other. Rowers must raise their hand on the side that is down.
"Easy" (or “Easy All”)	Command to stop rowing.
"Even” (or "even pressure")	This command tells the rowers to pull with even pressure on both sides.
"Give her ten" (or "power ten")	Commands the crew to row 10 strokes of special effort. It is frequently given when a crew is attempting to pass another boat.
"Hands on"	Tells the rowers to grab the boat near the gunwale next to their seats, so that the boat can be lifted or moved.
"Hard on port/starboard" (or "port/starboard pressure" or just “On port/On Starboard))	Rower harder on that side to help turn the boat
"Heads" or "Heads Up"	Off the water, a shout to alert others to watch out for a boat being carried.
"Hold Water"	Emergency stop. It instructs the rowers to square their blades in the water to stop the boat. Sometimes “Hold Water starboard/port” to hold on that side only to turn the boat.
"In 2..."	Most water commands are appended prior to the command to take place after two strokes. For example "In 2, Power 10" or "In 2, easy all"
“Inside Grip”	A command used when lifting the boat. Grab the boat at the gunwales (or inside the hull of wooden boats) so that you can lift it.
"Let it/her run"	To stop rowing but keeping blades feathered - preferably off the water. This allows the boat to glide for a distance leaving no blade wake in the water. Usually followed by the command “Drop”.
“Overhead”	Command to lift the boat, tuning it hull-up over your head.
“Pick it / Picking”	A rapid stroke where rowers use only their arms and use minimal pressure. An effective way to turn a boat.
"Power 10"	The command to take 10 strokes at more than full pressure. Used for passing and gaining water in a race.
“Row" or “Attention, Row”	Begin rowing.
"Roll it"	Tells the crew to flip the boat over, in unison, from above their heads.
"Set it up"	Reminds the rowers to keep the boat on an even keel.
"Settle"	Tells the rowers that the crew is going to bring the stroke rate down for the body of the race, but still maintain the pressure.
"Shoulders, ready, up"	Tells the crew to lift the boat from any position below their shoulders, up to shoulder height. Can be reversed to lower the boat from heads to shoulders, i.e., “Shoulders, ready, down!”
"Spike it Port or Starboard"	A command used if the stern is held by a stake boat. Usually means two seat takes Bow's oar in front of him/her and rows lightly with it to move the shell to port or starboard.
“Split” or “Split from Bow”	Command given when the boat is lifted overhead to move to one side opposite to the side taken by the person in front of you, so the boat can be lowered to shoulders for carrying.
"Squared and buried"	Commands the crew to move to the catch position with blades buried, and be ready to start the row.
"Swing it"	Commands used when carrying a boat to start turning either bow or stern.
“Touch it up / Back it down”	Commands used to move a boat forward (or back) by a given amount (e.g. “Back it down a deck” or “Touch it up a seat” Used by the aligner at the start.
"On the square"	To row without feathering the blades on the recovery.
"Waist”	Tells the crew to lift the shell to their waist or lower it to waist level

Equipment / Parts of the boat

Backstay	A brace which is part of some riggers which extends toward the bow from the top of the pin.
Backstop	The stop mechanism on the seat slides which prevents the rower's seat from falling off the sliding tracks at the back end (towards the boat's bow) of the slide tracks.
Blade	The spoon or hatchet shaped end of the oar or sweep.
Bow ball	An essential small, soft ball at the boat's bow. Primarily intended for safety but also useful in deciding which boat crossed the finish line first in very close races.
Bow number	A card holding the number assigned to the boat for a race.
Canvas	The deck of the bow and stern of the boat, which were traditionally made from canvas. (Sometimes used to describe the distance of a deck as in “Won by a canvas”)
Collar / Button	A wide plastic ring placed around the sleeve of an oar. The button stops the oar from slipping through the oarlock.
Cox box	Portable voice amplifier; may also incorporate digital readouts displaying stroke rate, boat speed and times.
Double (or Double Scull)	A rowing shell set up for two rowers using two blades each. Written 2x.
Eight	A rowing shell set up to be rowed by eight people using sweep oars. Written 8+
Ergo-meter (or erg)	An indoor rowing machine.
Foot stretcher	An adjustable footplate which allows the rower to easily adjust his or her physical position relative to the slide and the oarlock.
Four	A rowing shell set up to be rowed by four people using sweep oars. Written 4+ if a coxswain is also included or 4- if without a coxswain.
Front-stop	The stop mechanism on the seat slides which prevents the rower's seat from falling off the sliding tracks at the front end (towards the boat's stern) of the slide tracks.
Gate	A bar across the top of rowlock, secured with a nut, which prevents the oar from coming out of the rowlock.
Gunwales	(pronounced: gunnels) The top rail of the shell
Handle	The part of the oar that the rowers hold and pull with during the stroke.
Hatchet blade	Modern oar blades that have a rectangular hatchet-shape
Hull	The actual body of the shell.
Inboard	The length of the oar shaft measured from the button to the handle.
Keelson	A structure timber resembling the keel, but on the inside of the shell.
Knees	Strengthened ribs to which side-mounted riggers are attached
Lines	The ropes held by the coxswain to control the rudder.
Loom	The shaft of the oar between the blade and the handle.
Macon blade	Traditional U-shaped oar blade. (also spoon blade)
Oarlock	The rectangular lock at the end of the rigger which physically attaches the oar to the boat. The oarlock also allows the rower to rotate the oar blade between the "square" and "feather" positions.
Octuple (or Octuple Scull)	A rowing shell set up to be rowed by eight people using two oars each. Rarely used in North America. Written 8x+
Outboard	The length of the oar shaft measured from the button to the tip of the blade.
Pair	Rowing shell set up for two rowers using sweep oars. Written 2- (or 2+ in the relatively rare case of a pair with coxswain)
Pin	The vertical metal rod on which the rowlock rotates.
Pogies/Poagies	A type of mitten with holes on each end, which allow the rower to grip the oar with bare hands while also warming the hands.
Port or Portside	The left side of the boat when facing forward. (Stroke-side in UK/Aus)
Quad (or Quadruple Scull)	A rowing shell set up to be rowed by four people using two oars each. Written 4x if without a coxswain or 4x+ when a coxswain is also included.
Ribs	The name given to that part of the boat to which the skin of the hull is attached. They are typically made of wood, aluminum or composite materials and provide structural integrity. The riggers bolt to the ribs.
Rigger	A projection from the side (gunwale) of a shell. The oarlock is attached to the far end of the rigger away from the boat.
Rudder	At the stern or adjacent to the skeg and used by the coxswain (or in coxless boats, by a rower using a "toe") to steer the boat via attached cables.
Scull	(a) An oar made to be used in a sculling boat where each rower has two oars, one per hand (b) A boat (shell) that is propelled using sculling oars, e.g., a "single scull,"
Seat	Molded seat mounted on wheels, single action or double action. Single action is fixed bearing wheel, double action is wheel on axle that rolls on track and rolls on horns of seat.
Seating	Seating positions in a racing shell are numbered from the bow to the stern. Generally the foremost rower is called the "Bow" and the aft-most rower the "Stroke". So for instance the crew of an eight would number off from the bow: "Bow", "Two", "Three", "Four", "Five", "Six", "Seven", "Stroke".
Shell	The boat used for rowing.
Shoulders	Load bearing supports that mount riggers and attach to keel of boat. (also knee)
Single (or Single scull)	A rowing shell for one person. Written 1x
Skeg (or fin)	Thin piece of flat metal or plastic that helps stabilize the shell in the water.
Slides (or tracks)	Hollow rails upon which a rower or sculler's sliding seat will roll.
Slings (or stretchers)	Folding, portable temporary boat holders. Two are required to hold a boat.
Smoothie	A blade design in which the face of the oar blade is smooth, without the traditional central spine.
Speed coach	A device mounted on the keel that determines the boat's speed based on the speed of a small propeller.
Spoon blade	Traditional U-shaped oar blade. (also Macon blade)
Starboard (or Starboard side)	The right side of the boat when facing forward. (Bow-side in UK/Aus)
Starting gate	A structure at the starting line of a race. The shell is “backed” into the starting gate. Once in the gates a mechanism, or person lying on the starting gate, holds the stern of the shell.
Stern	The rear section of a shell.
Swivel	Alternate term for the rowlock/oarlock.
Top-Nut	The nut which screws onto the top of the pin holding the Rowlock in place.
Tracks	(see Slides)

Stroke Terms

Air stroke	To take a stroke without the blade having been placed in the water, resulting in a complete lack of power.
Backsplash	This term is in reference to the water thrown back in the bow direction by the blade as it enters the water. Less is better.
Backwater	To propel the shell backwards.
Body angle	Amount of forward lean of rower’s body from hips at the catch.
Bury the blade	Submerge the blade totally in the water.
Catch	The part of the stroke at which the oar blade enters the water and the drive begins.
Catch point	Where the blade enters the water.
Check	The amount of interruption of the forward movement of the shell--usually occurs at the catch and sometimes at the release.
Crab	A rowing error where the rower is unable to remove or release the oar blade from the water in a timely manner and the oar blade acts as a brake on the boat until the blade is removed from the water. This results in slowing the boat down. A severe crab can even eject a rower from the shell or make the boat capsize.
Drive	The propulsive portion of the stroke from the time the oar blade enters the water ('catch') until it is removed from the water ('release').
Feather	To turn the oar so that its blade is parallel with the water (opposite of square).
Finish	That portion of the pull-through just as the oar is taken from the water.
Hands away	At the close of the drive phase, the hands move away from the body.
Hanging at the catch	The blade is hesitating at the catch point, before entering the water. Not desirable.
Hot seating	When two crews share the same shell during a regatta and switch crews without taking the shell out of the water.
Inside hand	In sweep rowing, the oarsmen’s hand nearest the oar lock. This is the feathering hand.
Jumping the slide	A problem where the seat becomes derailed from the track while rowing. Usually caused by poor technique.
Lay-back	What the rowers have when they sit with their legs flat and lean towards the bow of the boat with their body.
Leg Drive	Power applied to the stroke, at the catch, by the force of driving the legs down.
Missing water	A technical fault where the rower begins the drive before the catch is complete.
Pause Drill	Rowing with a pause between each stroke. The coxswain or coach giving commands will indicate where in the stroke this pause should be taken.
Pitch	The angle between a "squared" blade and a line perpendicular to the water’s surface.
Puddles	Disturbances made by an oar blade pulled through the water. The farther the puddles are pushed past the stern of the boat before each catch, the more “run” the boat is getting.
Pull through	The portion of the stroke from the catch to the finish (when the oar is in the water). This is the propulsive part of the stroke.
Rate or Stroke rate	The number of strokes executed per minute by a crew.
Ratio	The relationship between the time taken during the propulsive and recovery phases of a rowing or sculling action.
Recovery	The non-work phase of the stroke where the rower returns the oar from the release to the catch.
Release	At the end of the drive portion of the stroke. It is when the oar blade is removed (or released) from the water.
Run	Distance a shell travels during each stroke.
Rushing	Term for when rowers move too quickly along their tracks into the catch. The boat will lose the feeling that it is gliding or “running.”
Set	The balance of the boat. Affected by handle heights, rowers leaning, and timing, all of which affect the boat's balance.
Shooting your slide	Term used for when an oarsman’s seat moves toward the bow faster than his shoulders.
Skying	Term used to describe a blade that is too high off the surface of the water during the recovery. The rower’s hands are too low causing an upset to the balance of the boat (the “set”).
Split time (split)	Amount of time it takes to row 500 meters.
Square	To turn the oar so that its blade is perpendicular to the water (opposite of feather).
Stroke	a) One complete cycle through the rowing process. b) The rower in the stern of a multi-person shell, whose timing is followed by the other rowers.
Stroke rate	The number of strokes executed per minute by a crew.
Three-quarter/Half/Quarter slide	Shortened strokes, often used during the start of a race or in a warm-up.
Washing out	When an oar blade comes out of the water during drive and creates surface wash that causes the shell to lose power and become unsteady.

Appendix F - Docks In/Docks Out

Background:

In early spring and late fall of each year it is essential to remove the rowing docks from the lagoon near the boathouse. Were they to be left in the water the ice could cause damage to the flotation, the connecting points between dock sections, the white vinyl bumpers, and the wood dock surface. It takes a team effort, albeit a team few in number, to effect the insertion and the retrieval. It is a potentially dangerous evolution because of the weight of the dock sections. It behooves Toledo Rowing Club to have instructions for care and maintenance of the dock and the equipment used to insert and retrieve the dock sections as well as a procedure for “Docks In” and “Docks Out” to insure the safety of those involved. This document is designed to provide that information for both TRC docks

Care and Maintenance:

The dock sections, the ramps, and the bridge:

Annually scrub down all wood surfaces exposed to the sun with a mild bleach mixture (10% bleach, 90% water). Rinse well with fresh water, not river water. Coat with 50/50 boiled linseed oil/mineral spirits, CWF, or Thompson’s Water Seal.

Insure that there are at least 27 5-gallon buckets and at least 270’ of brightly colored line to string between the buckets: 160’ for lagoon dock & 110’ for river dock to discourage the geese from hopping onto the docks. Another choice is to use 12” long x ¾” dowels placed in holes spaced about 10 feet apart in the dock planks and run the colored string through holes in the tops of the dowels. When rowers are on the dock, the dowels should be pulled from the holes and placed on the dock. DO NOT bunch the dowels and string together! Lay the dowels on the dock close to the holes from which they came

Check the Wolmanized 2x6 planks that are nailed to the edges of each dock section to support the white vinyl bumpers. Replace the fasteners (nails/screws/lag bolts) as necessary to insure that these boards are securely fastened to the dock section. Replace or secure white vinyl bumpers if required. (These are available from Bass Pro.)

The hoisting equipment:

Check the Nylon straps with the D-rings. Stored in the Repair Bay. Look for excessive wear. If badly worn, plan to replace. These are placed under the short ends of each dock section of the lagoon dock. The river dock uses different straps available from Jeff Sherman who supplies the crane.

Check the two lengths of chain, each of which has a hook at each end and one in the middle. Make sure the clevis pins are firmly tightened into the clevis. The chains are stored in the Repair Bay with the Nylon straps. The end hooks are placed in the D-rings on the Nylon straps; the center hooks are placed in the clevis’ at each end of the strong back.

Inspect the strongback-stored with the dock sections during the winter and in the compound during the rowing season. Make sure that the three clevis pins are securely tightened and secured with a short piece of wire in each of the three clevises.

The turnbuckle and wire rope:

Check wire rope clamps to be sure they are secure.

Oil both arms of each turnbuckle just before these pieces are installed and just after they are removed. These are stored in the Repair Bay.

Hitch Pins

Upon removing the dock sections and the ramps from the water, inventory the Hitch pins. Make sure that there are at least 27 pins in the plastic “fishing tackle box” labeled Docks In/Docks Out.

Make sure that the ends on the pins have not been so badly buggered from wear and tear during the season and from being forced into the connectors between the dock sections that they are unusable for the following year’s insertion. The lagoon dock requires 18 pins; the river dock requires 7 pins and 2 QuickLinks.

The Tool Kit:

One Plastic Fishing Tackle box labeled Docks In/Docks Out to contain the following additional items: 6 hitch pins, 6 washers, 2 Drift Pins, 6 hairpin cotter pins, a pry bar, and a small sledge hammer. In the large plastic bin which has the Nylon straps and the lengths of chain, find also 4 - 50’ lengths of nylon line and a boat hook. Have a 2x4x4 to use as a safety bar to make sure dock sections do not pinch fingers as hitch pins are removed!

At least one half dozen hard hats. One open end wrench and two sockets – 1-1/8” size for the river dock bolts.

The Crane Master

Jeff Sherman of Schaedler Enterprises at 419-727-9930 (Company phone) or 419-467-1624 (cell). Call him at least a month ahead of time. Plan on two insertion or retrieval dates. One crane and a flat bed. Remind him to bring yellow lifting straps with clevis’ to use to lift the river dock. Jeff informed TRC that his new boss, Matt Schaedler, wants to be part of the team that effects the process. So both he and Jeff will be on hand. We will plan to store the dock sections in front of the boathouse. Jeff volunteers his time and TRC pays him.

The Team

There are not a lot of people required for either insertion or retrieval. Four people on the dock and two tending the lines as the sections are lifted from the flat bed to the water or from the water to the flat bed seem to be an adequate number. There should be a seventh person assigned to fetch coffee. Any others can serve as supernumeraries so that they may serve in a more official capacity the next time around.

Safety

One hour before the actual Docks-In exercise and one hour before the actual Docks-Out exercise, there must be a safety briefing. This will consist of a complete verbal walk-through of the process to be followed with an emphasis on SAFETY. All personnel involved in the exercise must wear hard hats.

The Process

Docks-In

One month before insertion

a) Contact Jeff Sherman. Remind him about the four 20’ nylon straps that he provides.

b) Check Docks-In/Docks-Out box for complete inventory as listed above, replace

c) any supplies that are missing (See Care & Maintenance/Hitch pins above)

d) Inspect strongback, nylon straps, chains. Repair or replace as necessary, oil turnbuckles

e) Recruit team.

One week before insertion

a) Check long range weather forecast; reschedule if necessary

b) Pull together the Tool Kit, the Hoisting equipment, the turnbuckles/wire rope

c) Remind team members of their schedule.

Day of Docks-In

a) Conduct Safety Briefing one hour before commencement of evolution.

b) Place crane at the boathouse ready to lift sections to the flat bed

c) Guide crane operator to lift strong back from its storage

d) Lift lagoon dock section 6 – the one with bumpers on three sides - onto flat bed

e) Then lift dock section 2, 3, 4, and 5 (They are identical.) onto flat bed

f) Carry the Docks-In/Docks-Out box, pry bar, sledge hammer, and 2x4 to the “bridge”

g) Hoist lagoon dock section 1 – that which attaches to the ramps – onto the flat bed. That places all six lagoon dock sections on the flat bed

h) Hoist the two ramps for the Lagoon dock onto the flat bed, place on top of section 1

i) The River dock sections (2) and ramp can be carried in a second trip.

At the waterfront

a. Use the 50’ lengths of nylon line to guide the movement of the lifts.

b. Lift off one ramp, secure it to the right hand corner of the “bridge”. Use drift pins

to line up holes to make hitch pin insertion easier. Insert 2x4 between edge of

ramp and edge of bridge to ensure a safe gap for hands that are inserting and

securing hitch pins. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

c. Lift off second ramp, secure it to the other corner of the “bridge”

d. Lift off Dock Section 1, the one with two sets of brackets and two padeyes for the

turnbuckle/wire rope combination on the shore-side face of the section.

e. Secure the right hand end of that section to the right hand ramp

f. Secure the left hand end of that section to the left hand ramp. You may find it

helpful to install at least one of the turnbuckle/wire rope units to help line up

the padeyes at the bottom of the ramp with the padeyes on the dock section.

g. While that is being done, fasten the nylon guide lines to the next section and lift

it into the water. Guide it into position at the outboard edge of section 1

h. Secure the second section to the first. Do the same thing with section 3,

securing it to section 2; then 4 to 3, 5 to 4, and 6 to 5

i. While people are working attaching the dock sections together, fasten the

turnbuckle/wire rope combination to the padeyes on the strong back of the

“bridge” and the padeyes on dock Section 1, if that has not already been

accomplished – as mentioned in Step f. above.

j. There are some scalawags who feel called upon to remove the pins that hold the dock

sections together. We have come close to losing a dock section as a result. So secure

a chain to the steel frame on the ramp side of section 6 – the outboard most section –

attach an anchor to the chain, to keep a freed section from “escaping”.

Goose Guano Reducer

Place buckets around the perimeter of the dock, one every ten feet. String the line/vinyl coated wire through the handles of the buckets with the handles hanging over the water. The idea is to have the wire about 6 inches off the dock. The other choice is to follow the procedure spelled out in Section 2 of “Care and Maintenance” above

How do we get the docks out of the water? Reverse the process. I got tired of typing! But do check with the city about a month before Docks Out to make sure you have a place to store the docks for the winter; e.g. behind the boathouse, in front of the boathouse. (Front is preferable for ease of loading or unloading of dock sections. Place dock sections close enough to the concrete apron in front of the boathouse so that the crane operator does not risk touching the power lines with his boom. Be sure to have the 2” x 4” x 4’ available for SAFETY during the retrieval operation as well.

The River Dock

TRC needs to follow a similar, though not identical, procedure for insertion and retrieval of the river dock. The changes are the following: One 22’ x 4.5’ ramp instead of two ramps. Two 10’ x 20’ dock sections instead of six. Ramp is attached to the concrete slab on the shore. The 10’ side of one 10’ x 20’ dock section is attached directly to the ramp. The 10’ side of the second dock section attaches to the 10’ riverside face of the first section. Anchor cables run both upstream and downstream from the outboard corners of the second section to 200 pound concrete blocks which are left in the river year round. The two anchor cables crisscross so that anchor cable (A) attached to the upstream corner of the dock leads to the downstream anchor and, conversely, anchor cable (B) attached to the downstream corner of the dock leads to the upstream anchor. Those two anchors are approximately 15 feet off the corners of the dock. The anchor cables are attached to short lengths of chain at each of the outboard corners of the dock with “Quick Links”. The anchor cables stay in the river year round. The chains are attached to the corners with clevises. The chain allows workers to connect or disconnect “Quick Links” without having to keep his hands in the water for long.

One end of a wire cable, called “the Chase Cable”, is affixed to the metal plate at the top of the outboard edge of the concrete slab on shore. That cable leads through a loop on anchor cable (A) and is firmly secured to the end of anchor cable (B). That allows the dock installation team to find the anchor cables, (A) and (B), in the spring. There must be plenty of slack left in the Chase Cable after the docks come out so that the winter’s ice will not drag the anchors. Use the boat hook to “walk” along the Chase Cable in order to retrieve the anchor cable loops that will attach – using “Quick Links” - to the outboard corners.

The procedure for the river dock is a little different. At DocksOut time disconnect the “Quick Links” and allow the Anchor Cables (A) & (B) to fall to the river bottom. Save “Quick Links” in the DI/DO box. In the gap between the two 10’ x 20’ sections there are three “pins” holding the two sections together. To separate the two sections preparatory to pulling them out of the water, first remove the 2” x 6” that is held in with 3” Phillips head wood screws. You will see the three pins that secure the two dock sections together. Remove the cotter keys from each of the three pins, remove the middle pin first, then the other two. Put the pins back in the Docks In/Docks Out box.

Attach four 20’ Yellow rigging straps (which Jeff will have with him) to the crane hook. There are two D-rings on each 20’ side of the two River Dock sections. Place a clevis (which Jeff will have) in the loop at the other end of each strap. Using the clevises, attach the end of each strap to a D-ring on the side of the dock section. Attach a guide rope to one corner of the section to help control each of the two sections as they are lifted out of the water.

To lift the River Dock ramp use the yellow straps that are still attached to the crane hook. Attach one clevis to each of the four D-rings; there are two on each side of the ramp. Attach at least one guide rope to help control the lift. Take a strain on the ramp. Remove the bolts securing the ramp to the metal plate on the concrete slab. (This is where the 1-1/8 socket and the open end wrench will be useful.) Lift the ramp out and place it on top of the two dock sections previously placed on the flat bed. Place the bolts in the bucket with the various hitch pins. Check the pad eyes at the top of the ramp for wear; if there is any, arrange for a welder to rebuild the pad eye(s) or contact Don Smith at Harrison Marina, 419-729-1676. He built the ramp for TRC.

Insertion will be the reverse of this procedure. Note Well: When it comes time to secure the anchors to the outboard corners of the dock, use the Boat Hook to work your way along the Chase Cable to the first loop of anchor cable. That loop will be the end of anchor cable (A) and should be attached to the upstream corner of the dock with the “Quick Link”. Continue to work your way along the Chase Cable until you come to the second loop of anchor cable. (That will be at the end of the Chase Cable.) That loop will be the end of anchor cable (B) and should be attached to the down-stream corner of the dock with the “Quick Link”. Now we should be ready for another rowing season.

The Maumee River is very harsh on metal. Carefully inspect the Chase Cable to make sure that it will survive another year in the water without parting. At some point it will be necessary to replace the Chase Cable and, very likely, the anchor cables. According to Don Smith of Harrison Marina, 419-215-3223 (cell) and 419-720-1676 (office) who built the River Dock for TRC, when it comes time to replace the anchor cables, it may be necessary to replace the anchors as well “because they will have worked themselves into the mud on the river bottom and there will be no way to retrieve them easily.” In other words it will be far less expensive to put new anchors and new anchor cables onto the river dock.

Appendix G - Safety Check: Finishing (and Starting) a Season

The spring season is over, and you’re getting a chance to catch your breath -- now what?

If you’re a high school or college program, the boats are on the racks and the athletes are gone. It’s time to lock up the boathouse until the next program begins. Before you close the doors, do some important homework. Clean up the gear, prepare for the next season.

If you’re a club, this transition time is a perfect time to step back, assess the fleet and complete an overall safety check.

Whether your next practice is next week or next fall, you should check your boats, launches and the boathouse.

There is rarely enough time or energy mid-season to devote to maintenance. Take the time now to get these tasks done; it will make the next season easier, safer and more efficient.

The Boats

Repairs to hulls should be done now, especially if the repairs might be complicated. Waiting until a day or two before the boat is to be used again will lead to a rushed, and possibly inadequate, repair.

Give the hull (inside and out) a good inspection. You may find scratches or crushed honeycomb (especially on the inside gunwale opposite the rigger where the oar handle can get stuck) that went unnoticed during the past season. Although not an emergency yet, this kind of hull damage can lead to more problems down the road.

Check the shoes, heel-ties, tracks, bow ball, steering and riggers. All of these parts need a good scanning and thorough cleaning. If you row in salt water, all of the rigger parts and tracks need a good scrubbing. Salt water can take its toll on hardware. We suggest washing all hardware after every row and consider bronze or stainless fittings. Is the bow ball more duct tape than bow ball? Is it hanging on by a thread? Are the shoes cracked and threadbare? Take the time to order new ones.

If you have lights that you use for dawn or dusk rowing, change all the batteries and check the bulbs. If the lights/boats are not going to be used until next fall, we suggest you replace the batteries just before next season, not now.

Backstays need to be checked for bends and cracks. Backstays can be bent back into shape a few times and still be OK, but if you are seeing lots of little crazed silver lines of aluminum through the anodize, then it might be time to replace them.

The Oars

Clean the handles. H1N1 (swine flu), MRSA and other viruses can make the next person using the oar ill. Synthetic handles accumulate oils from the hands of athletes during normal use. Wash with soap recommended by the manufacturer to remove any oils and other bodily fluids that have dried on the handles during the season.

Check every oar for hairline cracks in the shaft. Although not too common, an impact like an on-the-water collision, hitting the edge of the dock or the side of the bay door can cause small cracks in the shaft. You can probably repair these; talk to the oar manufacturer.

Check the collars and sleeves for slippage or wear.

Check the blade for any splintering of the carbon fiber at the end of the blade. If the oar has been mistreated (who would do such a thing!?), the tips can be exposed and the layers of carbon fiber can separate or chip.

The Launches

Take the motor(s) in for maintenance. Outboard motors on rowing launches get used more in one season than the average outboard gets used in a decade. If getting the motor to the repair shop is not possible, at least change the oil (in a four stroke) and change the plugs for now.

Take all flotation devices and hang them up to dry. Check for rips and be sure they have all straps and buckles. Do an inventory. Make sure you have enough PFDs for next season. Order new ones now.

Check all safety equipment. If it has been sitting in a plastic box in the bottom of the launch, make sure that it is all dry and still useable. Discard any bandages or other materials that have gotten wet or damaged and replace them with new ones.

Clean your launch. Take a scrub brush to the outside of the hull. If the hull has been in the water for a while, there may be growth on the bottom. While it may not be a direct safety issue, growth may affect steering, slow you down and cause you to use extra fuel. Clean any oil, gas and grime out of the inside, along with your coffee cups and junk you have pulled out of your waterway.

Check the bulbs and change the batteries on your launch’s navigation lights.

Make sure ALL gasoline is stored safely.

The Boathouse

Store all your equipment where it belongs. Oars in the racks, cox boxes in their holders, the shop bench cleaned off and tools put away.

Everything on the outside of the boathouse should be secure and clean – no cruddy, wet socks left to rot.

If your docks are open to the public, you should have a sign posted saying that these docks are for the rowing club and can be used only at your own risk. Better yet, make sure no one can access your docks unless you want them to.

The next time the boathouse doors are opened let it welcome you and the athletes. No one needs reminders of all the things they should have done at the end of the last season.

Every boathouse has different requirements and the list above may be just a start. Take the time to finish this season properly, so you can start the next one right.