Sight your oars
Crew checks oars and crutches are ready for shipping
Ship your Crutches
Crew ship their crutches in the crutch plates
Ship your oars
Crew place their oars in the rowlocks or crutches ready for pulling
Let go forward / Let go aft
Bowman or Stroke let go. Coil up and stow the painters
Bear Off
The bowman or other crewmen use the looms of their oars to push the boat away from the jetty, landing stage or the bottom should the boat be grounded.
In fenders or Out fenders
To be given as separate orders when leaving and coming along side
Stand by to give way (or just - stand by)
This order is given to alert the crew before ordering "give way together". The crew lean forward, backs straight and arms extended to the full, with blades in readiness for pulling.
Give way - together
This is the order to start pulling, and is obeyed together by the whole crew. Timing is taken from the stroke.
If only one bank of oars is required, then the order "giveaway starboard (or port) is given.
Give way - port
Give way - starboard
Oars
This is the order to cease pulling. Take one more stroke and sit squarely and upright, oars horizontal and at right angles to the fore-and-aft line of the boat, blades feathered (horizontal).
Oars across the boat
Pull the oars in and lay them across the boat resting on the thwarts.
Lay on your oars / Rest on your oars
A more relaxed 'oars' position
Hold Water
This is an emergency order to reduce or stop the way of the boat by holding the oars at right angles to the fore-and-aft line of the boat and with their blades held still in the water. It should be obeyed immediately. If required to hold water with one bank of oars only, starboard or port is added to the order.
Stand by to back water
Given to alert the crew before ordering backwater together. Hold the oars close to the chest in preparation to back water.
Back - together
This is the order to back water together by short pushing strokes on the looms of the oars instead of pulling. If only one bank of oars is required to back water, the order "Back starboard" or "Back port" is given.
Together
This is the executive order for all to give one stroke together. If only one bank of oars is to give a stroke then the order “Give way Port” or Give way Starboard is given ("Stroke starboard or "Stroke port").
Easy all / Easy on your oars
This is the order to pull less vigorously. If the boat is being turned, the order ‘Easy Port’ (or starboard) may be given.
Mind your oars
This is a warning to the crew to keep the blades of their oars clear of some obstruction. This is an emergency order and should be obeyed immediately. "Port mind your oars" and "Starboard mind your oars" are alternative versions of this order.
Trail oars
The crew pass the looms over their heads, leaving the blades in the water and the oars trailed along the side of the boat. This is for use when passing in restricted waters.
Eyes in the boat
An order to the crew when it is necessary to regain their attention
Stand by to give way (or just - stand by)
This order is given to alert the crew before ordering "give way together". The crew lean forward, backs straight and arms extended to the full, with blades in readiness for pulling.
Give way - together
Give way - port / Give way - starboard
This is the order to start pulling, and is obeyed together by the whole crew. Timing is taken from the stroke.
If only one bank of oars is required, then the order "giveaway starboard (or port) is given.
Oars
This is the order to cease pulling. Take one more stroke and sit squarely and upright, oars horizontal and at right angles to the fore-and-aft line of the boat, blades feathered (horizontal).
Oars across the boat
Pull the oars in and lay them across the boat resting on the thwarts.
Lay on your oars / Rest on your oars
A more relaxed 'oars' position
Hold Water
This is an emergency order to reduce or stop the way of the boat by holding the oars at right angles to the fore-and-aft line of the boat and with their blades held still in the water. It should be obeyed immediately. If required to hold water with one bank of oars only, starboard or port is added to the order.
Stand by to back water
Given to alert the crew before ordering backwater together. Hold the oars close to the chest in preparation to back water.
Back - together
This is the order to back water together by short pushing strokes on the looms of the oars instead of pulling. If only one bank of oars is required to back water, the order "Back starboard" or "Back port" is given.
Together
This is the executive order for all to give one stroke together. If only one bank of oars is to give a stroke then the order “Give way Port” or Give way Starboard is given ("Stroke starboard or "Stroke port").
Easy all / Easy on your oars
This is the order to pull less vigorously. If the boat is being turned, the order ‘Easy Port’ (or starboard) may be given.
Eyes in the boat
An order to the crew when it is necessary to regain their attention
Bow
If a dedicated Bowman is not assigned, this order is given to the bow oarsman, when coming along side, picking up a mooring or other task. If a Bowman is present then the order will warn them to ready themselves.
Way enough
This is the order to bring the boat alongside which requires the crew to pull one more stroke, pass looms of the oars over their heads (to bring the oars close alongside the boat). It will be followed by ‘Boat Your Oars’.
Toss oars
Toss oars may be used in double bankedboats in lieu of weigh enough. The order will lift the oars vertically with the blades fore-and-aft.
Oars Down
In double-bank boats when oars are tossed
Ready for pulling
Fend off port / Fend off starboard
This is used to warn the crew to fend off in order to prevent damage to the side of the boat when coming along side.
Unship crutches
Take the crutches out of the crutch plates, can be left hanging by their lanyards.