HOCR: Top 5 Coxing Tips
My first time at the Head of the Charles, back in 2010, I was cocky and under-prepared (see post HOCR 2013: In the Driver's Seat), making botched calls and steering a less-than-stellar course. My goal since then has been to learn something new each year about in preparation of leading a crew down the Charles River. Check out my top 5 things every coxswain should know... so you don't make the same mistakes I once did.
Study the Course (DUH)
Confidence only goes so far. It requires more than a passing glance at the HOCR map to be ready to compete in Boston. Over 4,702m you'll pass under six bridges and make four sweeping turns. You could just follow the crews in front of you, but you should never trust another coxswain's line.
Check out these resources to prep for the race:
The official Competitor Race Course Map
This super handy chart of distances in meters between landmarks, by Boston-based coach, coxswain, and blogger Kayleigh of Ready All, Row ...
Head of the Charles Racing Tips, by Mary Whipple/9th Seat.
Be Prepared for any Kind of Weather
October in Boston can be sunny and clear when you launch, windy and cold by the time you get to the Basin. Wear layers in the boat – if you're coxing a bow loader, wear a water resistant jacket and pants, you'll be much happier. A hat and sunglasses are important, and possibly even gloves if it's chilly enough. I’ve seen everything from blue skies, to pouring rain, to snow at Head of the Charles.
Know the Rules, Regulations, and Penalties
See the official regatta rules here.
BUOYS: Stay between the orange buoys on port, and the green buoys on starboard. Oars may go over the buoys but the hull of your boat must stay inside the buoy line. If the hull crosses the buoys, you'll be assessed a 5-second penalty for the first buoy, and a 10-second penalty for any additional buoys passed on the wrong side (even if a buoy has drifted out into the course).
BRIDGES: Passing through certain arches is off limits. Study the Bridge Traffic Pattern, because an infraction will result in a 60-second penalty in addition to any buoy violations incurred by doing this.
YIELDING: When a crew closes to within one length of open water on you, you’re being overtaken. It is your responsibility as the slower crew to yield the line chosen by the boat passing you in a timely manner. You should be completely by the time the overtaking boat has closed within a half boat length.
Failing to yield to when there is adequate room and time will result in an interference penalty of 60 seconds the first time, 120 seconds the second time, and a disqualification if it happens a third time.
PASSING: When you’re overtaking a boat, start announcing your pass to that crew with something like “Bow #67, move to your starboard!” If they don’t give way, be smart. Don’t charge up on them and create a dangerous situation.
A passing crew has the right to pass on the side of its choice if and when a safe pass can be accomplished. You must allow sufficient room for both their boat and the boat overtaken to stay safely within the race course.
You don’t have an infinite amount of time time to pass. There isn’t a hard and fast rule on this, but pass quickly and be smart if you’re in tricky spots on the course like turns of coming into bridge spans.
COLLISIONS: If in the process of passing or being passed, a collision occurs, the crew that causes a severe collision may be assessed a 60-second penalty.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT: In the thick of it, when things get exciting, we all like to drop an F-bomb. But swearing at other rowers, coxswains, or officials, is a sign of disrespect that can get you a 60-second penalty.
Check out the full set of general responsibilities and rules of racing on the HOCR website.
MAKE A PLAN
At nearly 5k, the Head of the Charles allows you a lot of time to work with your crew. It can be overwhelming to know what to say and when to say it. There are standard calls you make no matter what boat you get in, no matter who the rowers are. Calls for things like big legs, timing, and quiet bodies. You'll ask your crew to take 10 to move through a boat, 5 to push away from a bridge, or heavy strokes from port/starboard to make a turn. For specific arches and points of reference, see the resources listed earlier in this article.
Let’s break it down:
FIRST MILE
Set the tone for the start of the race while you’re in the Basin. Calm and controlled, zip into the appropriate odd or even number lane of boats and keep space between you and the boat in front of you.
When the race official calls you, build pressure then rating so you’re at base race pace by the time you cross the start line. As you cross the line, execute your start sequence.
Adrenaline will be high, so be quality control for the boat and assess if the crew’s rhythm is efficient. Focus on the efficiency of these early strokes and, according to 3x Olympic gold medal cox Mary Whipple, “before you start really thinking about racing other boats, create intention for the race.”
Single file through BU Bridge (no passing before this) then hug bouys on starboard around to Magazine Beach. Here you can starting talking with the crew about distance off boats ahead.
Technical focus suggestion: placement and patience at the front end, “pop” off the catch for power and speed.
SECOND MILE
This is where you can really communicate with the crew about steering, position on the river, and strategy.
Check in on technique. Is something specific falling apart? Break down the stroke and give the crew technical responsibilities.
Use Weeks and Anderson bridges as motivators: 5 to get there, 3 to get under, five to push past and reestablish rhythm.
Coming into the third mile, make a transition call to sit up and breathe.
LAST MILE
This is really exciting. The crew knows they’re getting close to the cheers from the crowd on Elliot Bridge, and nearing the finish. Refocus the crew on unity and intention.
Coming around The Big Turn, prepare your starboards. I like to call power 3s - just enough to move the bow and allow me to reassess my point.
Technical focus suggestion: Lock. Press. Send. Finish each stroke. Sit up and finish with the best strokes of the race.
Know Your Crew
Solid technical calls and steering competence are only a piece of the puzzle. Plan in advance for a few special calls by knowing your crew.
What motivates your crew? Why have these athletes chosen to be rowers? What do they love about the sport? About racing? What are they insecure about in the boat? They don’t need to fill out a survey, but you should throw these sorts of questions into casual conversation. Their answers can give you gems to work with on the course.
A few years ago year, one of my rowers said he had butterflies in his stomach the day before the race, so I made a "It's going to burn, and it's going to be okay" call that, once we were back on land, he said knew was for him. Confidence boost? Check!
One of the rowers in my MM4+ one year says "whatnot" a lot. Used in a sentence: "I have to make sure to double check my rigger nuts, washers, and whatnot..." It's become a running joke, and during tough practice pieces and races I'll give a "Bring the whatnot!" call to motivate him to empty the tanks.
Have fun
If you're not having a good time, your crew's probably not having a good time. When things go right in the boat, let the rowers know: "Good set! Just like that! Do it again." My favorite positive comment to give: “There it is!” Keep it positive, otherwise there's potential for a downward spiral into self-doubt, fatigue, and frustration.
A final note
Notice I didn't mention memorizing the names of all the bridges and boathouses. If you can do this, super (I still can't ...) If your rowers can do it, well la di da. But I've found that communicating "first bridge coming up in 10 strokes!" or "pushing away from bridge 3!" seems to work just fine. It's not a quiz – if you forget the name of a bridge, it doesn't impact the outcome of the race.
I also sight off the buoys and arches and have yet to use a landmark on shore for steering (probably from years of sighting buoys from in the water for triathlon swims), so memorizing boathouse names won't help me."Sweet! I've got my line into the center arch. Get there!" gives the crew all the information they need.
Do you have HOCR tips or stories to share? Email me at rachel@rowsource.com to join the conversation.