from a motorized boat, disliked by rowers as the wash affects the boat stability and can cause water to flood over the gunwales. Boats Sometimes called "shells" in the US Sweep In a sweep boat, each rower has one oar. Eight (8+) A shell with 8 rowers. Along with the single scull, it is traditionally considered to be the blue ribbon event. Always with coxswain because of the size, weight and speed of the boat – bow loader eights exist but are banned from most competitions for safety reasons. Four (4-) or (4+) A shell with 4 rowers. Coxless fours (4-) are often referred to as straight fours, and are commonly used by lightweight and elite crews and are raced at the Olympics. In club and school rowing, one more frequently sees a coxed four (4+) which is easier to row, and has a coxswain to steer. Pair (2-) or (2+) A shell with 2 rowers. The Coxless pair (2-), often called a straight pair, is a demanding but satisfying boat to master. Coxed pairs (2+) are rarely rowed by most club and school programs. It is no longer an Olympic class event, but it continues to be rowed at the World Rowing Championships. Sculling In a sculling boat, each rower has two oars or 'sculls', one on each side of the boat. Octuple (8x) A shell having 8 rowers with two oars each. Generally a training boat, but raced by juniors in the UK. Quad (4x) A shell having 4 rowers with two oars each. Can be coxed (4x+) but is usually coxless (4x-). Triple (3x) A shell for three scullers with two oars each, usually without a coxswain. These boats are considerably rare. Double (2x) A shell for two scullers generally without a coxswain. Single (1x) A shell designed for an individual sculler. Very good for skill development, particularly beginners, and a very competitive class at world events, WRC. Extremely rare is the coxed single which is only used as a training boat or for adaptive rowing. Open-water boat A shell with positive flotation, self-bailing capacity, a non-binding stretcher, and no forestay so re-entry is easier. These boats are generally shorter and wider at the waterline than boats designed for flat-water racing. Equipment, parts of the boat Rigging is how the boat is outfitted, including all of the apparatuses (oars, outriggers, oarlocks, sliding seats, etcetera) attached to a