Tomorrow my big sculling day. I retake the first half and if I survive the day take the second half of my beginners learn to row program. The purpose of the course is to teach an aspiring rower how to safely operate a single person scull with sufficient proficiency that you can make it to a start line on your own power without hurting anyone. It also satisfies the club that you are sufficiently competent to use club property namely the racing sculls.
Single person sculling has a golden rule:
Keep both hand on your oars at all times.
It is as basic as don't fall on your own sword, or do not touch a red hot stove element. It is something that should be the case at all times with no exceptions other than when floatside and the scull is alongside the dock.
The other common sense guidelines for rowing.
Don't wear lose fitting clothing as it can catch your oar.
Wear cheap sunglasses as you will lose them when you dump into the water. Or if you can afford them get proper aquatic sunglasses that float.
Wear clothing that helps make you visible as a single person scull is very hard to control and very fast, making a lone sculler a floating speed bump to a motor boat. It is easier for the motor boat to avoid you than it is for you to avoid them.
Listen to your instructor. He knows what he is doing and he can see where you are going.
Tomorrow I return to the boathouse to face my fears again. This time as a aspiring lightweight without my Oakley Gascans, but wearing Oakley flip flops and board shorts. Hopefully the rib healed stronger than the outrigger.
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