shell in the water, and is often positioned so that it protects the rudder. Slides (or tracks) Hollow rails upon which a rower or sculler's sliding seat will roll. Older shells had double wheels rolling on convex rails. Slings Folding, portable temporary boat holders. Two are required to hold a boat. Smoothie A blade design developed by Concept2 in which the face of the oar blade is smooth, without the traditional central spine. Later designs called Smoothie Vortex, Fat Smoothie. Speed coach A device mounted on the keel that determines the boat's speed based on the speed of a small propeller and transmits this information to the coxbox. Spoon blade Traditional U-shaped oar blade, which is symmetrical down the center of the shaft. (also Macon blade or "Tulip") Starboard (or starboard side) (US) The right side of the boat when facing forward. (Bowside in UK) Starboard rigged (US) A boat where the stroke rower is a starboard rower. (Bow rigged in UK) Starting gate A structure at the starting line of the race. The shell is "backed" into the starting gate. Once in the gates a mechanism, or a person lying on the starting gate, holds the stern of the shell. State room The space between the gunwales (UK). Stern The rear section of a shell. Stretcher A slang abbreviation for foot stretchers. Strokeside (UK) The port or left side of the boat (even if the boat is bow rigged). Derives from the tradition of having the stroke rower's oar on the port or left side of the boat. Toe In some boats without a coxswain, a rower may be able to control the rudder and steer the boat by changing the direction their foot points. This is called "toeing a boat." And the mechanism is called a "toe." (also: "foot steering") Top-Nut The nut which screws onto the top of the pin holding the Rowlock in place. Tracks (see Slides) Tulip (see Spoon blade) Wheel (see Roller) Wing rigger More modern version of an outrigger in the shape of a wing. It has a stiffer workthru which makes the boat more responsive to the power of the stroke. This can also have the extra support of a backstay. Commands "(#) At the catch" Command to tell the rowers to put their oars in water in preparation to start rowing. "(#) Fall in/out" These commands tell the rower(s) either to