Wh en the gig is underway; any order to the oarsman except “HOLD WATER” is obeyed on completing one full stroke after the order is given. All such orders should be preceded by a cautionary “STAND BY TO . . .” which is given shortly before the order is to be executed. The actual order is given when the blades are in the water. To obey a pulling order, the crew takes their time by the stroke oarsman, who is the next senior rating to the coxswain. When “PORT” or “STARBOARD” is included in a pulling order, it refers to the bank of oars with their blades on the port or starboard side of the boat respectively.
To cast off from a dock
STANDBY TO CAST OFF (bow and stern crew are ready with lines doubled back to the gig, crew are ready to ship oars, - you may have the bank of oars on the water side of the dock ship oars prior to casting off and then have two crew push off from the dock with the loom end of their oars.)
CAST OFF FORWARD - CAST OFF AFT - (bow and stern lines to be pulled aboard, coiled, and crew quickly resumes their positions.)
FENDERS IN (done by crew closest to each fender)
To get underway
STANDBY TO SHIP OARS
SHIP OARS (place oars in “oars” position in rowlocks)
STANDBY TO GIVE WAY TOGETHER
GIVE WAY TOGETHER (all rowing crew pull together following the stroke oar person. If only one bank of oars is required to give way, the order GIVE WAY STARBOARD or GIVE WAY PORT is given.
STROKE, STROKE, STROKE (given until all are synchronized)
To Stop
WAY ENOUGH (stop pulling)
HOLD WATER (oars are held firm, blades upright in the water - start with just a portion of the blade below water and deepen the blade as you gain control of the oar)
To Rest
STANDBY FOR OARS
OARS (oars are brought out of the water - parallel to the horizon)
STANDBY TO LAY ON YOUR OARS
LAY ON YOUR OARS (oars are pulled midway across the boat with the looms resting on the opposite gunwale)
To Go Astern
BACK TOGETHER (reverse stroke)
To Ease the Pace
STAND BY TO EASY ALL
EASY ALL (stroke oar eases the pace - all others follow)
To Turn to Port or Starboard (one bank holds water while the other strokes)
STARBOARD BANK STAND BY TO . . . . . (hold water)
PORT BANK STANDBY TO . . . . (give way together)
TOGETHER (both banks perform the action requested)
Maneuvering
STROKE TOGETHER (this is the order for all to give one stroke together. If only one bank of oars is required, STROKE PORT or STROKE STARBOARD is given.
To Dock
STANDBY TO DOCK (bow and stern crew prepare painter, stern line, and fenders are placed overboard.
STANDBY TO BOAT YOUR OARS (maintain just enough forward motion to allow for docking)
BOAT YOUR OARS (all oarsmen pass the loom over their head with their inner hand and receive the oar from the next aft crew with their outer hand. Starting with aft most oar, scoop it out of the water and place it outboard on the thwarts, work each oar in likewise towards the bow. Crew now are all positioned along the centre line of the thwarts facing aft, with the bow and stern crew ready with boat hooks and dock lines. When the gig is alongside the dock the next command follows)
SECURE ALL LINES (bow and stern dock lines plus two springs)
Editor’s Note: - Let’s have additional submissions here from each group on methods used to SHIP OARS, storage of oars across thwarts and other rowing techniques!
Sailing
Each Atlantic Challenge group has developed their own style and technique in seamanship and sailing. This makes for a rich exchange of ideas as international crews gather together during the international competitions. Representatives from each AC group are invited to make additional entries here on sailing and seamanship.
From Denmark – Vibeke Bischoff
One of our most important concepts is that everyone in the gig knows how to do each task. Even all the little things like who carries the foresail, who hoists the main, even the finest little details. When we train, we hoist the sails, take them down, store them, and repeat the process so everyone learns the routines.
We would like to see the Irish and the French report here on rowing because it is nice to know how many strokes per minute. Once on a triangular course the French rowed past us and it looked so easy for them and they were rowing slowly and we were going like in a panic . . . and then you get tired.
Crew Responsibilities in the Danish Gig. Note oar positions are numbered from #10
Bow to #1 Stroke Oar.
Bow Watch – person must be aware of everything in front of the gig and tells the Cox. This crew is the only person to report to Cox, sets anchor and puts foot on mast heel during raising.
#10 Responsible for set of fore sail, and locks mast gate
#9 Raises mast, pulls fore sail around and sets tack, helps secure halyard
#8 Raises mast, hoists sail, secures halyard
#7 Takes the sheet around and helps adjust and set sheet
#6 Adjusts sheet of fore
#5 Places foot on mast heel when raising. locks mast gate, responsible for set of main sail
#4 Raises mast, hoists sail, secures halyard
#3 Raises mast, pulls main sail around and sets tack, helps secure halyard
#2 Takes the sheet around and helps adjust and set sheet
#1 Adjust mainsheet, rows the boat around when tacking
Crew in Stern - Controls the mizzen sheet
Cox Coxswain duties and raises mizzen
General Comments
We always put the strongest crew towards the rear because the masts need stronger crew for raising, setting sheets and rowing larger oars. Also to have more weight towards stern appears better. Our gig easily goes to weather without moving crew aft. Remember to pull the mizzen in correctly.
If you want to tack, move crew weight forward so the stern of the gig gets light and easily can blow away from the wind. Drop the foresail first and pull the mizzen hard so you so you have the sail center of effort moved aft. Drop the main and start rowing. As soon as you are in the wind, hoist the foresail and back it. Loosen mizzen and haul up the main.
When gybing, loosen the mizzen totally, move crew back and take the main down first to have the sail pressure in the front of the boat. With these long gigs you need to steer with both the sail and the weight of the crew as well as the rudder, since the rudder itself is not enough.
When we are rowing in the Captain’s Gig, we have a small pause when the oar is at our stomach. It gives your arms a rest but we also use it to get a rhythm.
Vibeke Bischoff
Editor’s note: Thanks to Vibeke and the Danes for this contribution. Could we have some notes from other groups to enrich this section and look at variations on techniques and style!
Sailing Responsibilities – Canada
Note: Numbered positions start at the Bow as #1 oar to #10 as stroke oar.
BOW Lookout, secures tack and anchor
#1 Passes fore tack
#2 Controls mast gate, moves fore halyard
#3 Hooks foresail, secures fore halyard
#4 Foresheet, control and passes
#5 Main tack, secure and pass
#6 Moves Main halyard, controls mast gate
#7 Secures main halyard, hooks mainsail
#8 Foresheet – positions to thumb cleat and muscle control
#9 Assist with mainsheet, rows during tacking procedure
#10 Controls and moves mainsheet during tack
Stern Sheets Sets up and controls mizzen
Coxswain Helm, responsible for communications to crew, safety of vessel and those aboard
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