Rowboats, kayaks, canoes, and yachts all have things in common. Each is a different type of boat that has been around for thousands of years. Through the course of time, these vessels were modified to provide optimum performance for their crew.
While originally intended to transport people and cargo, today boats are used mainly in competition. The highlight of an athlete’s career is competing for the gold medal in the Olympics. The races could not be more different, because the ships, while all being made to float and race, have their own unique qualities.
Basic Design
The materials for making boats include wood, aluminum, fiberglass, plastic, graphite, and even fabric. The style and purpose of the ship help designers know which substances to use. Boats that will travel the ocean require different materials than ones racing down the rapids.
Rowboats are called shells. They are light weight, and easy to carry. The interior of the shell is open. Seats are lined up horizontally across the ship for the crew. Rowers are seated vertically down the length of the boat. The oars of rowboats are attached to the boat. Rowboats also have a rudder that the coxswain moves from side to side if necessary.
Kayaks are also light weight. They have a closed deck, and the rower sits in an individual cockpit. Cockpits are sealed with a rubber skirt to help keep the water out. Kayaks can have up to four cockpits, but many have only one. Kayaks are small and narrow, making it easier for a single individual to carry. Their paddles are independent of the boat.
Canoes are small open boats that were originally made by hallowing out tree trunks. They are sturdy vessels that have open floor space for a kneeling crew. Canoes have horizontal bars which are widely spaced across them. Crew members kneel between the bars, using them for support and balance when necessary. Oars are kept free so that the team can move them from side to side.
Yachts are sailboats. There are many types of yachts. The sailboard is a surf board with a sail on it. Dinghies, catamarans, and other yachts hold several passengers, and sometimes have more than one sail. Sailboats are designed to move with the wind. They have large light weight sails that catch the wind and carry the boat across the water.
Crew and Passengers
Rowboats can hold up to 8 crew members, depending on the size of their boat. Each person rotates one oar, on alternate sides of the vessel. The crew faces backwards when rowing. Sometimes there is a leader, the coxswain, but not always.
The coxswain gives the team direction, and keeps them safe from hazards in the water. He sits in the far end of the boat, facing his crew. The cox is also responsible for steering the boat with the rudder.
Skulling is another type of rowing. Crew members have two oars in this boat, one on each side. They work as a team, just as in single oar rowing, relying on their cox for guidance.
Kayaks are usually single person vehicles. They use a paddle with a blade on each end of it to move through the water. Many kayakers wear wetsuits to keep warm. An important skill of kayakers is to be able to roll the boat. Kayaks often flip in rough water because they are so small and light.
People who use canoes kneel in the bottom of the boat. Their paddle has a blade on one end. Crew row the paddle first on one side, and then on the other to move through the water. Sometimes, when there are two or more crew members, they will alternate sides of the boat to paddle. Other times, they will all begin paddling on the same side, and switch in unison.
Crew members of sailboats should be able to determine the direction of the wind. They need to know how to put up and take down the sail, as well as turn it to get more momentum in the water. Many sailboats carry passengers. Crew members are responsible for keeping their passengers safe.
Competition
Rowing races are categorized by the number of team members. Rowers compete in lanes. They have sprints, and long distance races. There are two types of rowing competition, one with a coxswain, and one without. Coxless races are steered by a team member using foot pedals.
Kayakers compete in sprints, rapids, and marked, rough water, winding courses called slaloms. Some of them even participate in extreme events like the whitewater rodeo. In the rodeo, athletes get to show off a little. They perform acrobatic stunts that get judged on creativity and skill.
Canoe sprint competition takes place in lanes, while long distance races take place in high current rivers. Canoe teams also race in slaloms, like kayakers. Most canoeing races have more than one team member.
Yachts are raced in all types of water. Crew members sail on lakes, rivers, and even the ocean. Their races are called regattas, and can be very direct, going from one point to the other, or wide open, sailing across the ocean. There is individual and team competition in yachting.
All types of boating athletes can compete in the Olympics. Men and women participate in rowing, kayaking, and sailing races at the Olympics. Only men are currently allowed to participate in canoe racing at the Olympics. Boating races are part of the Summer Olympic Games.
