The first frame is a composite of the curves described by Dr. Valery Kleshnev in 2007. It plots the boat speed against time broken down into the phases of the stroke. The steeper parts of the curve indicate acceleration ro deceleration. The integral is the distance traveled. Note how long it takes to get the blade in the water and start accelerating. And note the flat lackluster acceleration right after the drive indicating that the rower is not getting out of bow very fast and not shooting the boat out from under him. Then the rapid deceleration at the end of the recovery indicates a check. Presumably this indicates a typical square blade orthodox style that is taken for granted. John Robinson, an advocate of the Cunningham/Pocock style thinks the rower can do better. The second frame - red dotted line - shows the blades getting in the water and driving sooner which John says is accomplished by driving the feathered blade into the water at the catch with the legs. "It has to be faster than getting the blade in from a squared position because the looms are inches closer to the water", says John. The boat stops decelerating and starts accelerating sooner. The third frame focusses on the recovery. Finishing with the shoulders so the body starts to move out of bow while the blades are still in the water and little weight in on the seat, shooting the boat out from under the rower and driving the hands quickly away toward the feet with the rest of the body following. The boat keeps on accelerating until it gradually decelerates in the run. Putting it together in the last frame, John says the "direct catch" and proper finish can add 10% to the distance traveled per stroke. Back to the curve Back to technique

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