THE SPORT OF ROWING To the readers of www.Rowperfect.co.uk This is the fourth installment on sources and illustrations, etc. will be an es- www.Rowperfect.co.uk of the latest draft of sential contribution to what has always been the beginning of my coming new book. intended to be a joint project of the rowing Many thanks again to Rebecca Caroe for community. making this possible. All my contact info is at my website. I will also be at the 2010 World Champion- Details about me and my book project ships on Lake Karapiro, and I hope to be at are available at www.rowingevolution.com. the FISA Coaches’ Conference in London in For six years I have been researching and January. Or you can email me anytime at writing a four volume comprehensive histo-
[email protected]. ry of the sport of rowing with particular em- phasis on the evolution of technique. In For a short time you can still access the these last months before publication, I am first, second and third installments. Addi- inviting all of you visitors to the British tional chapters for your review will continue Rowperfect website to review the near-final to appear at regular intervals on draft. Your comments, suggestions, correc- www.Rowperfect.co.uk. tions, agreements, disagreements, additional THE SPORT OF ROWING Part III The Birth of Classical Technique 123 THE SPORT OF ROWING 9. The Developing Sport of Professional Sculling Thomas Eakins – 1870s Technique Byrne & Churchill Wager Boat “[Before the invention of the outrigger,] the best that could be done with the early „wager‟ boats was to keep them as narrow as possible on the waterline and to have high, widely-flared gunwales to carry the rowlocks.