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Rowing Together

is of the utmost importance to the success of a boat when she is manned by a crew; and they should all endeavour to attain the same style as the "stroke-oar," who should be the best in the boat, and as free from faults as possible. In a four or eight-oared boat, every one of the crew would do well to imitate his stroke by rowing with him occasionally in a pair-oared boat, or else, if this is not practicable, by pulling behind a waterman who rows in the same style as the stroke-oar. In this way an uniform kind of rowing is attained, and the boat is propelled equally by all at the same time. The great object is for all to lay hold of the water at the same moment, and pull their oars through it and out with the same power and at the same time; this is called "keeping stroke." "Keeping time" means all "feathering" the oar together, by which the peculiar click of the oars in the rowlocks is made exactly at the same instant. When this is not done precisely together, the "time" is defective, and the ear at once detects the error; but even when the "time" is ever so good, the want of keeping stroke is fatal to the speed of any boat, however good the individuals may be.