Hi all,
My friend just joined my school's crew this winter. Right from the get-go, he figured he would have to be a coxswain. Since he's never been in a boat, he asked me for some advice, especially steering advice.
What should I tell him to do in order to steer straight?
Thanks
Teaching a Coxswain How to Steer Straight
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fruitpunch41
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ucsdcollett
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Re: Teaching a Coxswain How to Steer Straight
Keep both hands available to steer.
Always have a hat/NK headband so you don't have to hold your mic (and sunglasses too).
Pick a point in the distance and try to stick to it. Don't steer your course off of other boats as they may be making slight corrections all the way down the waterway.
Remember that the boat is turning from the stern (back wheel steering) and only make slight adjustments instead of huge sweeping patterns.
As for other general coxwain stuff, just focus on what the current task is, i.e. calling the drills properly or giving your boat a heads up as to where other boats are in a race piece. *Counting to 10 over and over again is generally regarded as ANNOYING* so don't talk just to talk. Sometimes it's nice to hear yourself think for a few minutes as a rower.
Always have a hat/NK headband so you don't have to hold your mic (and sunglasses too).
Pick a point in the distance and try to stick to it. Don't steer your course off of other boats as they may be making slight corrections all the way down the waterway.
Remember that the boat is turning from the stern (back wheel steering) and only make slight adjustments instead of huge sweeping patterns.
As for other general coxwain stuff, just focus on what the current task is, i.e. calling the drills properly or giving your boat a heads up as to where other boats are in a race piece. *Counting to 10 over and over again is generally regarded as ANNOYING* so don't talk just to talk. Sometimes it's nice to hear yourself think for a few minutes as a rower.