Sculling

What is sculling?

Sculling is a rowing sport in which the rower holds one oar in each hand.

How to scull

The rower takes an oar in each hand, puts the oars into the water and pulls back to move the boat through the water towards the finish line. The rower’s back faces the finish line, and the rower races backwards. Rowers use great strength to pull the oars, and coordination to enter both oars into the water at the same time in order to generate faster speed. A sculls competition may have one, two, four or eight rowers in each boat.

How to win

The first boat to cross the finish line wins.

Equipment

Boat – a vessel that holds the rowers(s)
Oar – a long tool used to row
Blade – a large rectangular piece on the end of the oar that goes into the water and creates the movement of the boat during the race

Sport lingo

Regatta – a rowing competition with many races
Bow – the front of the boat
Stern – the back side of the boat
Starboard – the left side of the boat (the rower’s left side)
Port – the right side of the boat from the rower’s perspective
Shell – another term for the rowboat