The Independent Rowing News

Open water defined: intensity, competitiveness, and camaraderie in downright wild waves.

Call it the extreme side of rowing or racing with a vertical element. You speed your way through 10-foot swells two miles offshore, avoid being capsized by wakes from large vessels, or battle a tidal surge in a crosswind. The open water racer terms this fun. They savor sinking their teeth into the challenges of the sea. “Fear is the mind-killer. It is a struggle for relaxed control, a balance between the tensions of the unexpected- ones that almost flipped me- moments and the joy of getting another good solid stroke. You need mental and physical flexibility. You need to adapt to the waves, they will not adapt to you,” says Wayne Lysobey, organizer of Westport’s Lighthouse to Lighthouse race, a 14-mile event open to all seaworthy human powered vessels.

What differs between open water racing and flat water racing? The events are much longer, ranging from 10 to 25 miles long. There are few rules. First, yield to power boats, ferries, and container ships. Second, safety is paramount so all rowers are expected to help another rower in distress. Steve Wells, Vice-president of the Sound Rowers Open Water and Paddling Club in Washington says, “Other than our safety rules and guidelines, at Sound Rowers’ races we emphasize the Main Rule (some say the Only Rule), which is that you will be disqualified if anyone sees that you are not having fun. A major difference between flat water regattas and open water races seems to be cultural. And that difference is evidenced by the difference between the thickness and complexity of the USRowing Rules and the role of judges on one hand and our Main Rule. The culture of open water racing is a unique blend of intensity, competitiveness, and camaraderie. The format of open water events contributes to this atmosphere since there is just one race and everyone launches [and races] together. That leads to the whole fleet spending social time together after they finish…good food, lots of sea stories. This cultural variety likely contributes the greatest benefit to flat water racing. A mental break from the flat water regatta experience even while contributing to the aerobic base and building mental focus.”

Planning for the distance with regard to your endurance level, mental preparation, hydration, calorie consumption, and weather is important. You need a boat that can stand up to some waves. Open water boats are typically shorter and wider than their flat water counterparts. You also want one that isn’t prone to swamping so it should have a built-in self-bailer, small cockpit, or splash guards. Rigging is often set lighter than a flat water boat so one can row a higher stroke rate. Stretchers are adjusted to provide more clearance between the body and oarhandles, oarlocks are set higher, pins spread a bit wider, and softer flex oar shafts help to keep boats moving better to avoid re-accelerating so much on each stroke.

The courses can go out to islands or around buoys in a triangular pattern and variable conditions are to be expected. Navigation is an important part of the race. This requires using compass headings, back bearings, or a global positioning system to steer a proper course. Add in the challenge of fog affecting your visibility and avoiding obstacles such as other watercraft, rocks, whales, bridges, channel markers, or a huge fleet of racers in different boat classes so you have to be alert to your surroundings. Because the rowing conditions are affected by current, wind, or eddies, the fastest course may not be the exact compass course. The top open water rowers are able to read the water to find the fastest way. “In a long race your route can vary as much as half a mile. In fact,” Lysobey adds, “It is possible to row slower than a competitor and still beat them.”

Seasoned scullers agree that the basic mechanics of the stroke are the same but the ability to make an effective, efficient stroke in various conditions is another animal. This may mean keeping blades higher off the water, shortening the slide in rough waves so you keep your weight centered in the hull, then lengthening and picking up the rate in flatter conditions. Tyler Peterson of Sound Rowers compares, “In flat water racing you can look down the 2000 meters and see the finish. You know where the wind and chop are coming from and adjust accordingly. In open water racing, depending on the course, conditions can range from flat with no wind to rowing against a five-knot current and against a 15-knot head wind that changes depending where you are on the course in the same race! It is difficult because you may feel a flat water boat your best option at one point then a half an hour later a much shorter boat with a huge fin would be ideal for conditions surfing downwind. Technically, an open water rower needs to be very versatile. I like to compare it to racing a mountain bike. It is still riding a bike but there is much more to think about.” Peterson adds, “Tactically, the racing is different. Most markers are not very forgiving to shells so during a race you are presented with important choices. In a 2000-meter race your options are to row faster and hope your competition bonks. Here, a good turn can create an advantage of several boat lengths in just seconds. A rower who is behind in an open water race often takes more risks in an attempt to make up ground. The trick is to be smart and lucky,”

For the first timer, make sure you know what you are getting into; definitely practice in adverse conditions. Dave Lee of Prairie Rowing advises, “Become familiar with the course and water including tides, currents, prevailing winds, and steering points. Row it beforehand if possible. GPS makes steering much easier if you get your coordinates but still look around to see what’s going on.” Enjoy the finish line party.