by Clare Callow

Created on: February 20, 2009   Last Updated: March 27, 2009

Rowing is distinct as a mode of water transport as it uses the dynamic energy of the rower to carry the vessel across the water. Although the obvious difference between rowing and other forms of water travel is the simple one (rowing involves a human being putting an oar in the water, whereas a motor/sailboat does not), the true distinction between rowing and other ways of propelling a vessel across water has a lot to do with rowing's history.

Rowing has remained popular even when far more sophisticated methods of travel are available. Rowing a boat is one of the oldest methods of water travel, but the technology and physics involved today are the outcome of a startling number of innovations. One of these is the simple punt, or setting-pole barge, which is propelled by means of a long stick making contact with the bottom or banks of the river. Using a pole, the punter boosts the boat along the water, a more effective use of effort in waters that are too shallow for paddles to create enough thrust.

A step between a setting-pole and a paddle is a quant pole, used also to propel boats by boosting through contact with the river bottom. This is a hollow pole with one flat end which can be used to make contact with the bottom or to steer the boat. The next step is the paddle itself, as once it is hooked to the side of the boat this handy little item becomes known as an oar. The hooking of paddle to boat is the handy leap in technology that led to the full force of the stroke being directly transferred to the boat's movement across the water. Simple, but brilliant, huh? Using oars instead of paddles does mean a more efficient transfer of energy, but it does get a bit wearing over long distances. Enter the sail: a big, wind-catchy thing.

However, even when sails became the major propulsion method of water craft, rowing held its place. Many people may remember that vessels in ancient times were propelled by a mix of rowers and sails, the former set out over several levels and giving the name to the biremes, triremes, quadriremes and quinqueremes. The use of oars in this way is thought to date back as far as 610 B.C.E. in ancient Egypt. The massive power available from the levels of rowers meant that ships need not risk becoming becalmed or fight unfavouring winds. Although modern technology has delivered more effective methods of travelling over water, rowing provides so much proverbial bang for your buck that it is still much-used. Like a bicycle, this method of travel requires only the appropriate tools and your own energy, a relatively rare thing in the modern world.

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