Weights and Measures:

Boat Weight and Construction

FISA establishes minimum weights for each of the eight boat classes used in international competition. Many major regattas, including the U.S. National Championships, also require boats to meet these minimums. The minimums are the same for all competition classes (e.g., Men, Women, Masters)

Boat Type	FISA Minimum Weight
Single Scull (1x):	14 kg (30.86 lbs.)
Double Scull (2x):	27 kg (59.52 lbs.)
Pair Without Coxswain (2-):	27 kg (59.52 lbs.)
Pair With Coxswain (2+):	32 kg (68.34 lbs.)
Four Without Coxswain (4-):	50 kg (110.23 lbs.)
Four With Coxswain (4+):	51 kg (112.44 lbs.)
Quadruple Sculls (4x):	52 kg (114.64 lbs.)
Eight (8+):	96 kg (211.64 lbs.)

The minimum weight includes riggers, seats and foot stretchers, but does not include oars or electronic amplifiers, stroke counters, etc. Rather than removing these items, crews can choose to accept a weight allowance for them, as follows: Speaker: 0.15 kg; cables, bottle holder, and a wire with magnet for a stroke coach: 0.1 kg each.

Free Construction:

FISA allows boatmakers to use any material or design they choose, with a few notable exceptions All rowing shells must have displacement hulls. Riblets or coatings designed to reduce drag are prohibited. All eights used in international competition must be sectional (this is so that crews who must ship their boats overseas in standard shipping containers will not be at a disadvantage.) The minimum length for all racing boats is 7.2 meters (23.62 feet) (this is to ensure the boat is long enough so that it can be aligned from a stake-boat). Beginning in 2007, new boats must have sufficient flotation so that when swamped, they float with the seats not less than 5 centimeters below the waterline with the crew in normal rowing position.

Starting sequence, commands and signals:

According to the USRowing rules of racing, the official starting sequence is as follows:

1. All crews must be attached to the starting platform two minutes before the scheduled race start, or risk receiving a warning ("False Start").
2. A judge aligns the crews, and raises a white or fluorescent green flag to show that the crews are aligned.
3. The starter then polls the crews—asking them lane-by-lane if they are ready. If a crew is not ready, the bow-person signals by raising his or her hand conspicuously.
4. When the crews have been polled and indicated that they're ready, the starter announces: Attention!
5. The starter then raises a large red flag.
6. After a distinct pause, the starter announces Go! and simultaneously drops the red flag.
7. Crews may leave the starting line when the starter's flag begins to move. Note that the official starting signal is the flag, not the verbal command.

If your crew is not ready: Have the bow-person signal by raising his or her hand.

If the starter starts the race when your crew is not ready: Remain at the starting line, with the bow-person's hand raised conspicuously. The officials should re-start the race. Do not leave the starting area; if you do you will have no grounds on which to protest later.

If you break something: If you're within 100 meters of the starting line, stop, and raise your hand. The officials will allow you to repair the damage and re-start the race. However, this only happens with legitimate breakage. A broken oar, oarlock or seat carriage are considered legitimate breakage. A seat coming off its tracks or an oarlock keeper popping loose are not. Know the difference. If you already have passed the 100-meter breakage limit, continue racing as best you can if it is safe to do so.

False Starts: If your crew crosses the plane of the starting line before the starter's red flag begins to move, you will be assessed a warning. If your crew receives two warnings you will be excluded ("disqualified"). This includes warnings for being late to the line, failing to follow the traffic patterns, etc.

Starting commands, French: Until the late 1980s, French was the official language of rowing, and races were started in French: Êtes-vous prêts? Partez! (Are you ready? Go!)

Starting Sequences and Commands for Head Racing:

Because head race competitors generally start one after another in intervals of about 10 seconds, a different starting sequences and commands are required. These vary between races but follow the same general pattern. Always check with organizers to determine the starting procedure for each race.
Before the first competitor starts, all the boats in a given class line up in single file according to their starting numbers. The starter will instruct each crew to begin rowing before it reaches the starting line. Crews should accelerate to racing pace before they cross the line. An official will notify each crew verbally and/or with a sound signal when the crew passes the starting line.

Common (and Uncommon) Rowing Weights and Measures:

International rowers use the metric scale, North Americans rely on a mélange of metric and English units, ocean rowers use knots and degrees of latitude and longitude, while rowers everywhere employ a highly flexible jargon to quantify victory and defeat. This quick reference will help you to translate.

Measurements:

1 meter = 3.281 feet (39 inches or 3 feet, 3 inches)
Thumbnail: Multiply meters by 3 and add 10 percent--2,000 meters x 3 = 6,000 + 600 = approx. 6,600 feet. (Actual figure is 6,562 feet.)
1 kilometer = 0.621 mile= 0.540 nautical miles

Thumbnail: Multiply kilometers by 6, then divide by 10--2 km x 6 = 12/10 = approx. 1.2 miles. (Actual figure is 1.243 miles)
1 mile = 1.609 kilometer = 0.869 nautical miles

Thumbnail: Multiply miles by 1.6.
1 nautical mile = 1.852 kilometers = 1.150 miles

Weights:
1 kilogram = 2.206 pounds

Thumbnail: Multiply kilograms by 2 and add 10 percent—70 kg x 2 = 140 + 14 = approx. 154 lbs. (Actual figure is 154.324)
1 pound = 0.454 pounds

Thumbnail: Divide pounds by 2 and subtract 10 percent. 154 lbs./2 = 77 – 7.7 = approx. 69.3 kg. (Actual figure is 69.853 kg.)
1 stone = 14 pounds.

A "Stone" is a vestigial measurement trotted out once per year to confuse foreigners at England's Henley Royal Regatta, as if naming events after plates and goblets rather than boats isn't confusing enough already