BOAT ORDERS.
Oars and rowlocks having been placed in the boat, blades of oars toward the bow, rudder and yoke, if any, stepped and the yoke lanyards clear, the men board and take their proper seats. The man pulling the bow-oar is No. 1, the next man is No. 2, and so on, to the man pulling the stern-oar, who is called the “stroke-oar.” The men being seated, with oars handy, the bow-man, who may be No. 1 or an extra man, as convenient, holds onto the wharf, side, or piling, as the case may be, with his boat hook.
Shove off.—At this command the bow-man shoves the boat clear, giving her headway if possible. He boats his boat hook and takes his seat.
Up oars.—The crew simultaneously seize and raise their oars smartly to the vertical (guiding on the stroke-oar) and hold them directly in front of them, the blades fore-and-aft, inboard hands grasping the handles, holding the same well down between the knees, outboard hands grasping the looms at the height of the chin.
Let fall.—The oars are eased down into the rowlocks together, brought level with the gunwale, blades horizontal and all trimmed on the after oars. Oars must not be allowed to splash.
(1) Give way together, (2) GIVE WAY.
At the first command the men reach well forward, blades nearly vertical, ready for the stroke. At the second command they dip their oars at the same time as the stroke-oar and commence rowing, keeping stroke exactly and all lifting their blades to the height of the gunwale on the return. (Or higher if waves render this necessary.)