by Clare Callow

Created on: February 20, 2009

Rowing with a bow-coxed boat or rowing with your cox at the stern: not only does it sound like an interesting yoga position, it presents a pretty problem for rowers deciding on their favourite style. There are advantages and disadvantages to either choice, and the main decision comes down to speed versus safety.
First, the difference: a bow-coxed boat, known as a bowloader, has the coxswain sitting semi-supine (half lying down) in the front of the boat, as opposed to the usual position for the cox at the back. The cox, facing front, uses a microphone to call instructions to the crew just as they would in the other arrangement, only this time, they have the advantage of being able to clearly see the playing field.

Being able to see the way clear ahead is just one of the advantages of having the cox at the bow of the boat. Being in a semi-supine position also gives the boat a speed advantage, as the cox's centre of gravity is below the water line, reducing the amount of roll their weight would normally add to the momentum. Having their weight added to the bow is yet another advantage, as it acts as a steadying factor as the boat is propelled through the water, reducing porpoising.* Both of these are a bonus, speed-wise, as they reduce drag, the amount of resistance the boat meets as it cuts through the water.
Having your cox at the stern, however, has its own plus side. In terms of tactical advantage, a cox sitting with all rowers in their field of vision is more able to see how the team's technique is going and adapt it to suit the conditions. A stern-coxed boat also has the advantage of seeing competitors as they creep up, giving the cox more time to decide how to deal with the situation. Another important difference is the safety element: a bow-coxed shell has a greater chance of injury to the cox and the team in the event of a crash; the cox particularly, as they are in the vulnerable position of lying down within the boat. As a cox's job is primarily to ensure the safety of the boat, this extra element of danger places them under a lot more pressure.
As the cox is virtually blinded in a bow-coxed boat, placing a novice cox in a bowloader is almost unthinkable, making the appointment of a cox on the team a difficulty. A successful bow-coxed shell is a shell full of experience. The cox must be confident in their knowledge of their team as there is no possibility of communication while they are on the water. Although the cox can tell certain things from the rhythm of the strokes on the water and the subtle differences in the movement of the boat, it does take a lot of experience for the cox to correctly interpret these signs and use them to implement strategy. This, however, makes for a more challenging sport.

*Porpoising: a strangely confusing term which means rocking from side to side. Not, as one might be forgiven for thinking, meaning acting like a dolphin.

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