Pulling orders

These are the orders used in a pulling boat with a crew, e.g. a gig.

When a pulling boat is under way any order to the oarsmen except HOLD WATER, TRAIL OARS, and MIND YOUR OARS is obeyed on completing one full stroke after the order is given. All such orders should be given at the moment when the blades of the oars are in the water.

 

CAST OFF FORWARD

Bow/bowman casts off and holds boat fast with a boathook.

SHIP CRUTCHES 

Crew place crutches in position, checking they are correct way round.

IN FENDERS

Crew bring fenders inboard.

SHOVE OFF BOW/BOWMAN

Bow/bowman, pushes boat clear of the bank, using the boathook.

OARS, or
OUT OARS

Crew place oars in crutches, ready for pulling, at right angles to the fore and aft line, with blades horizontal and feathered.
When only one bank of oars is required to prepare, the order OUT OARS STARBOARD, or OUT OARS PORT is given.

 STAND BY

Members of the crew lean forward, backs straight and arms extended, with blades ready for pulling.

GIVE WAY TOGETHER

The whole crew starts pulling, in time with the stroke.

GIVE WAY STARBOARD/PORT

When only one bank of oars is required to give way.

HOLD WATER

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 the blades vertical in the water.
This is an emergency order and should be obeyed immediately.
When only one bank of oars is required to hold water, the order HOLD WATER STARBOARD or HOLD WATER PORT is given.

BACK WATER

The crew back water together, in time with the stroke, by pushing on the looms instead of pulling.
When only one bank of oars is required to back water, the order BACK WATER STARBOARD, or BACK WATER PORT is given.

MIND YOUR OARS

The crew should keep their blades clear of some obstruction.
If only one bank of oars is affected, the order 'MIND YOUR OARS, STARBOARD' or 'MIND YOUR OARS, PORT' is given.
This is an emergency order and should be obeyed immediately.

TRAIL OARS

In order to avoid clashing with an obstruction, oars are trailed alongside the boat, with blades to the stern.
This is an emergency order and should be obeyed immediately.

EASY ALL

The crew pull less strongly, so that the speed of the boat will be reduced.
If the boat is being turned the order EASY PORT, or EASY STARBOARD is given.
To resume normal pulling, the order GIVE WAY TOGETHER is given.

EYES IN THE BOAT

An order to the crew when it is necessary to regain their attention.

OARS

The order given to cease pulling. The crew then sits upright on their thwarts, with their oars at right angles to the fore and aft line, with blades horizontal and feathered.

OARS ACROSS THE BOAT

The crew can relax, with their oars athwart the boat, and rest on their the looms.

IN BOW

This order is given in plenty of time before coming alongside, or picking up a mooring, etc.
The bow rower stands to boat the oar, blade forward, unship the crutch and stands ready with boat hook or bow painter.
If there is a separate bowman, the order STAND BY BOWMAN can be given.

WAY ENOUGH

The crew stop pulling (after one stroke). The oars are allowed to come alongside the boat, the crew passing the looms over their heads. The oars are then brought into the boat and the crutches unshipped.

MAKE FAST BOW/BOWMAN

The Bow or bowman makes the boat fast with a round turn and two half hitches, using the bow painter.
OUT FENDERS Crew put out fenders.

SHORE CREW OVER THE BOW

The crew leaves the boat in order, stepping in the bottom of the boat, not on the thwarts, and lines up on the bank.