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Articles -
GothCox
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Written by GothCox
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All right... This here post is to put an end to the ongoing question "in head races, should I cut the corner or take it wide?". Now I personally don't know the answer to this and in a few weeks I have a 6.4km head race coming up, now this will be my 2nd head race ever (We don't usually race more than 2k in South Africa) and i'd like to know the answer... So please all ye coxies of wide knowledge, post and let the knowledge be known... ~ gothcox
User Comments: | Subject: Re: Cutting Corners or The Long Way Round | |
| Submitted by Anonymous Coward on 2003-11-20 10:02:16 | Comment:
From my experience in the UK, it depends on the stream of the river. In Cambridge, the river doesn't have much stream to speak of, so the fastest line is the shortest one (taking the corners close). On the Thames, if you're racing with the tide (effectively downstream) it's quicker to go wider and stay in the stream than cut the corners. Not only that, but the stream carries you round to a certain extent so you can keep rudder use (and braking) to a minimum.
It's worth speaking to people you know who've coxed that particular bit of river before to find out where the stream runs, or speak to your coach... Good luck with the race!
Saffyre
| | | Subject: Re: Cutting Corners or The Long Way Round | | Submitted by GothCox (
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) on 2003-11-20 11:54:22 website:http://members.fortunecity.com/gothcox/ | Comment:
Unfortunately my crew is at a dissadvantage as the other cox lives down in that part of the country, has a house on the river and goes fishing so he knows the currents and tides..... sigh... but yeah, i'll ask him anyway... lots of sand banks too...
GothCox
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| Subject: Re: Cutting Corners or The Long Way Round | |
| Submitted by coxing_superhero (-) on 2003-11-20 12:50:58 website:http:// | Comment:
I agree with the first poster.
It is total dependant on the stream, on the Thames tideway course, some of the corners are fasted if taken alarmingly wide because this is what the stream does and the stream is very quick.
The rule on all tidal rivers in the the deepest water has the fastet stream (there is a faster stream on the cam by the way, which is why during a race you don't see many boats going down the middle of the long reach).
With all your experiance of coxing I am sure you will be able to feel if the stream is fast enough for you to have to take wide lines or not. If you are unsure experiment on the way to the start by steering all over the river (explain this to the rowers first though, or they tend to get worried)
Also get a course map before and go over it with someone who knows about the river or about streams and tides in general, they can let you know where is best to be, and where is best to force other crews off into!!
| | | Subject: Re: Cutting Corners or The Long Way Round | | Submitted by GothCox (
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) on 2003-11-20 13:17:06 website:http://members.fortunecity.com/gothcox/ | Comment:
Yeah, ill do that, thanks, well that helps me alot, I shall let you know how it goes too...
GothCox
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| Subject: Re: Cutting Corners or The Long Way Round | |
| Submitted by The_Fiery_One (
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) on 2003-11-20 22:18:05 | Comment:
As a general rule of thumb you should always follow the inside of a corner. Having coxed many head races I have found that taking the inside of the corner is always the fastest, but then again it may be different where you live.
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| Subject: Re: Cutting Corners or The Long Way Round | |
| Submitted by Anonymous Coward on 2003-11-20 23:46:08 | Comment:
you're talking about boat race right?? well i'v only ever coxed 2 head races but i think taking the inside corner's better as long as u dom't do what someone in my crew did and go on the wrong side of all the boys!!
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| Subject: Re: Cutting Corners or The Long Way Round | |
| Submitted by uk-coxie (-) on 2003-11-21 11:48:57 | Comment:
I agree with the first 2 posters where you take the corners depends on lot's of things
- the amount stream (and how much it has rained recently) - if there is lot's of stream then take it wider
- which way you are racing (with or against the stream)
- how deep you expect the corners to be - if there are sandbanks then don't go too tight or the dead water will slow you down
-how tight the corner is (and how well your boat turns !!)
Also coming out of corners if there is lot's of stream the fastest line on the straight bits might not always be the middle but can be to the side that is on the outside of the bend. Try asking the local coaches etc to see what they reckon and have a good look on the way to the start.
I find that sometimes it is good to get one side to pull you round if it is a tight corner and out of all the corners it is good to do a push for 10/20 as the boat speed will drop round the corner with the rudder on.
Good luck - 6.4k will be a long way if your crew are only used to racing 2k's.
| | | Subject: Re: Cutting Corners or The Long Way Round | | Submitted by GothCox (
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) on 2003-11-21 12:04:53 website:http://members.fortunecity.com/gothcox/ | Comment:
Yeah, thanks a lot...
I really appreciate all the info, I'll look for the stream but i know we race with the current... 6.4 is a long way for ROWERS, but my crew are machines.... hehehehe, I had to, i'm sorry...
Thanks again...
GothCox
| | Subject: Re: Cutting Corners or The Long Way Round | | Submitted by Anonymous Coward on 2003-11-21 14:01:16 | Comment:
on entering / leaving the stream be careful with the steering, because the difference in water speed can force the bows / stern of your boat around ...
| | | Subject: Re: Cutting Corners or The Long Way Round | | Submitted by GothCox (
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) on 2003-11-21 14:12:54 website:http://members.fortunecity.com/gothcox/ | Comment:
Ok, thanks a lot... Woohoo, 1 x Gold medal heading this way... hopefully...
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