A non-Danish speaker, or someone who is learning Danish, can start rowing in Vejle Roklub. Though as a minimum, it is necessary to learn the Danish names for the most common rowing commands used in the boat. On this page you can see the list of commands in Danish and English, on the page Rowing Technical Terms more about terminology used in the rowing sport - again in Danish and English.
About the use of commands
In all boats (on all trips) the cox (styrmand) is always in charge and gives all commands. In inrigger boats the crew take turn sitting in the cox's seat, and when in the cox's seat any member should give commands because he/she can look ahead. Still in all situations the cox has the final word and this should be respected by all rowers. NB: If any of the crew feel uneasy about the trip (too far, too windy, etc.), the crew member should speak up and the cox must listen and adjust the trip/course to the extent possible.
Command style
Several commands have a "warning command" ("ready to..." and then the command name) that lets the crew know a certain command will follow shortly - but the command itself should not be started.
Example: First command "Ready to row" - crew only take position to start rowing but do not actually row. Second command "Row" - crew starts rowing.
*Translation into English questionable
| Danish | English | Description |
| Commands to get in and out of the boat | ||
| Klar til at gå om bord | Ready to go on board* |
Four commands, two to get in the boat, two to get back on shore: |
| Om bord | Go on board* | |
| Klar til at gå fra borde | Ready to leave board* | |
| Fra borde | Leave board* | |
| Commands to balance and start from land | ||
| Balance | Balance |
Rowers are in "Way enough" position and push the handle of the oar against the gunwale (side of the boat) on the opposite side. Looking at the oar blades the cox balance his weight on the seat to find the perfect balance in the boat. |
| Sæt fra | Push* | Rowers push the boat to get clearance from shore. |
| Commands to start rowing or backing | ||
| Til roning klar | Ready to row |
Two-step command to start rowing: 1a) Rowers are ready for rowing – forward on the seat, arms stretched, legs bent, oar blade squared out of the water (ready position). |
| Ro væk |
Row (or: Go) |
|
| Til skodning klar | Ready to back (or: Back it down) |
Two-step command to start backing (opposite direction of rowing): 1a) Rowers get ready for backing – arms bent (oar to chest), legs stretched, oar blade squared out of the water, blades reversed on the square. |
| Skod væk | Back | |
|
Commands to change speed or to stop |
||
| Det er vel (or: Vel roet) | Way enough (or: Easy Oars) |
Rowers stop what they are doing and sit with arms and legs stretched and oar blade out of the water and horizontal. |
| Småt roning | Light pressure |
Rowers are rowing with the same pace and the same rhythm as ordinary rowing, but with less pull during the drive – either starboard or port or both. The boat keeps just enough speed to allow the cox to steer with the rudder. |
| Lige træk (or: normalt træk) | Normal pressure |
Normal pressure both port and starboard side of the boat. The command is used to cancel out "Light pressure". |
| Åren på vandet | Blades down (or: Drop) |
Three commands that can break the speed of the boat, from a little to a lot: 1) The oar blade feathered position and placed on the water. Arms and legs stretched (as "Way enough" except the oars are on water). 2) Rowers lower oar blade 5-10 cm under water in order to diminish speed. The blade is vertical or a little at an angle. 3) If the boat does not stop quickly enough the cox can follow up with the last command. The oar blade under water – blade vertical with the hollow side pointing in the direction the boat moves. |
| Sæt i |
Check (it down) |
|
| Sæt hårdt i | Hold water | |
| Commands to change the direction of the boat | ||
| 1) Bagbord småt roning 2) Bagbord vel roet 3) Bagbord sæt i 4) Bagbord sæt hårdt i |
1) Port light pressure 2) Port way enough 3) Port check 4) Port hold water |
Four commands to turn the board more or less towards port side. 1 turns the boat the least, 4 the most. Advice: Cox should not turn harder than necessary - it is cumbersome for the rowers! |
| 1) Starboard småt roning 2) Starboard vel roet 3) Starboard sæt i 4) Starboard sæt hårdt i |
1) Starboard light pressure 2) Starboard way enough 3) Starboard check 4) Starboard hold water |
Four commands to turn the board more or less towards starboard side. 1 turns the boat the least, 4 the most. Advice: Cox should not turn harder than necessary - it is cumbersome for the rowers! |
| Styrbord - fald ind or Bagbord - fald ind or simply Lige træk |
Starboard - fall in* |
Starboard (or port) picks up (start doing what the others are doing) the rowing (or backing) done by the rowers on the other side of the boat. This is used if the cox commanded "Starboard way enough" (to temporarily stop one side of activity) or similar to turn the boat. |
| Commands to turn the boat (like 180° in narrow water) | ||
| -Styrbord til skodning klar -Bagbord til roning klar -Skod væk -Ro væk |
-Starboard ready to back -Port ready to row -Back -Row |
These 4 commands turn the boat towards starboard (the boat always turns towards the backing side). Starboard rowers assume backing position, port rowers rowing position. Starboard and port sides alternate making a stroke. All rowers, starboard and port side, follow each other on the seat - otherwise it will be chaos in the boat. The alternately backing and rowing continues until cox gives the "Way enough" command. |
|
-Bagbord til skodning klar |
-Port ready to back -Starboard ready to row -Back -Row |
These 4 commands turn the boat towards port (the boat always turns towards the backing side). Port rowers assume backing position, starboard rowers rowing position. Port and starboard sides alternate making a stroke. All rowers, starboard and port side, follow each other on the seat - otherwise it will be chaos in the boat. The alternately backing and rowing continues until cox gives the "Way enough" command. |
| Various commands | ||
| Åren tværs | Oars in | The oar is pulled in across the boat until the collar touches the opposite gunwale. The rowers stop rowing. |
| Kvart åren |
Pull in oar halfway |
The oar is pulled in to the extent that the rowers have on hand on each side of the leather (plastic cuff) covering around the button. This can be done while rowing. This command is used in narrow waters, like in a small river. |
| Åren ud | Oars out |
The oar is pulled/swung out and the rowers are in ‘Way enough’ position. The rowers do not stop rowing executing the command. |
| Åren langs |
Go into layback position |
By bending backwards the rower pulls the oar shaft over his/her body thus placing the oar blade and oar shaft alongside the boat. The rower only holds the oar with the inner most hand. This command is used in narrow waters (like rivers), when calling harbour or before swopping seats in the boat (inrigger only). |
| Klar til at rejse årer | Ready to lift oars |
Two commands to lift the oars: 1a) The rowers loosen the lock on the swivel and pull the oar in until the leather/plastic covering the loom is free of the swivel. 1b) The rowers lift the oar out of the swivel and place it with the blade in the air and the oar shaft resting on the plates in the bottom of the boat as close to the keel as possible. The hollow side of the oar blades should point towards bow. These commands have two purposes: One is to solute someone important, like the royal ship "Dannebrog"), second is when calling on a bridge. |
| Rejs årer | Lift oars | |
| Lad falde | Lower oars |
The oar is lowered and placed on the gunnel, just aft of the swivel. Immediately afterwards it is lifted into the swivel and the gate is closed. This command cancels the "Lift oars" command. The rowers assume "Way enough" position. |
| Se til åren | Heads up |
While continuing to row the rowers are watching the oar to avoid collision wit buoys etc. To the extend necessary the rowers pull the oar in, place it alongside the boat or continue to row with the oar pulled in - though if necessary the cox will usually give a command. |
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